Shastri Boodan
One man was killed and another was seriously wounded following a botched robbery attempt at Carlsen Field on Monday. Four masked men bearing firearms entered the house of Matthew Perez-Christian between 5.30 and 6 am through a back entrance and demanded money. A close relative of the murder victim, who did not want to be identified, said a struggle ensued between the bandits Perez-Christian and his son
Christopher Christian,27 as they were trying to push the criminals out the back entrance.
During the struggle, the younger Christian was shot in the chest and died in the living room. The bandits then fled and escaped on foot. The elder Christian was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Centre by the police and he was subsequently taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre in an ambulance for treatment.
Lynette Frankie, the mother of the deceased, was in a state of disbelief while Gita Sookdeo, the girlfriend of the murder victim broke down in tears when she got the bad news. The younger Christian worked on the farm with his father.
The family sells meat in the St James Market.
The elder Christian is known as Perez the “beef man” at the St James Market.
Shiraz Khan, head of the Farmers Union, and a neighbour of the robbery victim, who was also robbed in March, said it was time farmers get licensed firearms to protect themselves.
An angry and visually disturbed Khan said he was fed up with the old talk. He said there have been about 20 robberies in recent times in Carlsen Field. Khan said bandits have graduated from beating their victims at Carlsen Field to killing them.
“We have been talking to police, we have been going on the media and complaining and not one (expletive) thing has been done around here," he said. "No police patrol, imagine 20 robberies and nobody eh get hold, look at where it reaches today, now murder in Carlsen Field. I have to hear my neighbour, them children does be working so (expletive) hard, you understand, now get up to do their work 5.45-5.30 am and this is what have to happen boy?"
Khan said enough is enough. Khan said the predial larceny squad was a waste of time since they do not have vehicles to patrol the area.
Another neighbor Brichnu Dass said he wanted to flee. Dass, 65, said his children were murdered 20 years ago. “I scared, I uptight I don’t know if I could make it here again,” he said.
Investigations are being conducted by the Freeport police and homicide south.