Relatives mourn teen girl, brother hacked to death by ‘friend’‘They leave us in pain!’

Senior Reporter

sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt

There was heartbreak and outrage from the relatives of two siblings slaughtered on Wednesday night in New Grant, as well as from the family of the man suspected of committing the gruesome acts.

Sixteen-year-old Shenelle Singh and brother Keston, 21, were hacked to death in New Grant. The murders of the siblings were among seven between Wednesday and yesterday, with two of the incidents involving multiple victims.

Shenelle, a Form Four Mayaro Secondary student, left her home in Mayaro on Saturday to purchase school shoes but decided to spend a few days with her brother at his home.

Keston had been renting at Naggee Avenue, the suspect’s hometown, for over a year. The siblings knew the suspect and were liming at his home on Wednesday. Sometime before 7 pm, however, the suspect attacked the siblings with a cutlass. Residents believe the attack was sudden and the siblings had no chance to defend themselves.

Keston, a security officer, was found dead on a couch in the gallery, bleeding from wounds to his neck and feet. Residents believe Shenelle jumped over the bannister but did not get far. She was found dead on the ground about ten feet away with multiple chop wounds to her face and head.

Police were trying to determine a motive for the deadly attack, but the suspect’s relatives claimed he allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting Shenelle before killing the siblings.

When Guardian Media visited yesterday, residents and the suspect’s relatives were outraged over the killings. They said they had a sleepless night as the suspect kept roaming the area. Shortly before 8 am yesterday, they contacted the police and he was arrested a few houses away from where the incident occurred.

In Mayaro, the siblings’ grandmother, 63-year-old Margaret Ragibir, was visibly shaken. She said the siblings’ mother was too distraught to speak and the family was in anguish.

“Today they leave us in pain. Today we are in pain. I just put it to God in prayer that vengeance don’t belong to me, it belongs to God. I love them very much and today I have to mourn their death,” Ragbir said.

Describing the siblings as beautiful and loving children, she said they shared a close bond. She said Keston was always laughing and Shenelle always smiling. Their murders, Ragbir lamented, were a reflection of a loveless society.

“When somebody do something like that they really don’t love nobody … This time nobody loves nobody in this time because look how many murders taking place,” she wept.

The grandmother said Shenelle, who would have celebrated her 17th birthday in November, wanted to be a nurse.

Back in New Grant, resident Marisa Copper said she was disturbed and angry by the murders. Cooper is also related to the suspect, who she accused of being an evil and violent man who was released from prison last year.

“I am telling you … me and he is family, he is a menace to society. These are the things he is do (sic). This is his temperament and he had no right to kill them innocent. He kill these children wilfully,” Cooper alleged.

She called on the police to ensure the suspect, “stays in jail.”

Cooper said residents found Shenelle’s body and called the police.

Cooper called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to address the country on the crime situation.

“People in pain. People children dying. People children crying … You need to face your people and say something to your people.”

The 33-year-old suspect, who police said was held for stealing copper cables, assault and marijuana possession, remained in custody last evening.

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