Disgusted over the gruesome death of 54-year-old mechanic Dulraj Deodath, villagers of Sea Trace, Diego Martin, the following day, hunted down and caught four children whom they and police believe were responsible.Homicide officers close to the investigations said the four were held the day after Deodath's bludgeoned body was found at his Sea Trace, Bagatelle, Diego Martin, home.
Four teenagers, including a 15-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother, have been in custody since Sunday, after villagers held them in connection with the killing last Saturday.The T&T Guardian was informed that the villagers formed a vigilante group, did their own investigations, held the children and immediately handed them over to the police.Police would not confirm whether the four had been harmed during the citizens' arrest.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Deodath's relatives said they had heard about the arrests, but not from the police.Relatives said they could not understand what would have driven the suspects to commit such an act, as they lived in the neighbourhood and had even learnt to drive in Deodath's truck, as he regularly gave lessons in his yard.Pressed further, the relatives said they did not want to speak much more on the issue as they were fearful there might be repercussions from relatives of the suspects.
The T&T Guardian was informed that Deodath's three-tonne truck was found at the bottom of a cliff in Maracas after one of the suspects led police to the spot. Police said jewelry and a sum of cash were also found in the suspects' possession.Deodath, who was called "Boyan" by his relatives and neighbours, was a member of the Jesus Is the Answer (JITA) Ministries. He was found in his bed, covered in blood, around 2.30 pm on January 18. A hammer lay nearby.
Sgt Grant and Cpl Linton of the Western Division visited his home after relatives had tried to call him repeatedly and got no answer. The police found his front door forced open and his Toyota truck missing.Deodath's sister Elsie Deodath described her elder brother as a kind and generous man who was always willing to assist anyone in the village. She said added that, if her brother was hired to do a job and the client was unable to pay he would also not make much of a fuss.
Deodath, a bachelor with no children, was cremated yesterday. His autopsy revealed he suffered blunt force trauma to the head, which cracked his skull.