With their hairnets still on, two Japs Fried Chicken workers were among the crowd at St Helena who took turns trying to get the best vantage point to view the bodies of father and son —Devanand and Jeremy Gokool—who were executed yesterday. Around 5.30 pm, police said a man dressed in black approached the duo who were seated on white plastic chairs facing an empty lot of land behind their St Helena home.
Police said the 52-year-old Gokool, a money-lender and an employee of the Ministry of Works, was approached by the man who pretended he wanted to borrow money. As the two discussed the terms of agreement, the shooter, who police believe was a paid assassin, shot both men once in their heads and walked away. He then got back in his car and drove off. The make and model of the car along with the licence plate was captured on camera and police say they would review the footage.
Jeremy Gokool, police said, was shot in the chest on January 18 after he got into an altercation with a man allegedly over a Government contracting deal that went sour. On April 10 Siewdath Ragbir, managing director of RS Pavers Limited, appeared before a Chaguanas Magistrate charged with shooting Gokool. Police are not linking the two incidents. At the double murder scene yesterday, a crying relative said there were three police officers living in the area and they all failed the family.
Another woman screamed that the men should have had guns to protect themselves. She added: “This is not real. Why would they want to kill them? He was not a threat to anyone. The only weapon was his tongue.” Meanwhile, in an unrelated murder, police of the Valencia Police Station were called to the Quarry Road, Valencia, murder scene of Anthony de Verteuil. De Verteuil, police said, was a known criminal with a history of convictions for robberies and gun-related matters. Police said around 6.35 pm on Wednesday residents heard gunshots and discovered his body on the roadway.
De Verteuil of Cassandra Boulevard, Valencia, was shot eight times in the chest and arms. Police said despite his criminal history they have no motive for his Killing.
