Trinidad: Slain doubles man was a State witness to double murder
(Trinidad Express) Less than a month after he reported receiving threats against his life, 34-year-old Shazard Mannick was gunned down at the Original Sauce’s Doubles’ booth along the Southern Main Road, Curepe, while serving customers.
Mannick, police believe, was killed because he was a witness in a homicide which was expected to be brought before the courts soon.
This is because the 34year-old, who also resided with his girlfriend in Curepe, had previously reported receiving threats at the same location where he was killed.
At about 9.30p.m. on Saturday, two men made good on the previous threats, and walked up to Mannick as he was serving customers.
They pulled out what was described as “longguns” before opening fire at the 34-year-old.
They then fled the scene on foot.
Mannick was hit several times about the body, including his back, head, shoulders, and leg.
Mary Vanaphar, 52, of Sangre Grande, who was buying doubles at the time was injured in this incident as a bullet fragment struck her in her top-lip.
The police and emergency health services were notified and both wounded parties were rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.
Mannick was pronounced dead on arrival.
Vanaphar, police said, remains warded up to late yesterday.
Crime scene investigators recovered 17 spent shells on the scene.
Speaking to The Express yesterday, relatives, who asked not to be identified, said that Mannick was a father of one – an 11-year-old girl.
They said the killing had left them all shaken, and they were trying to come to terms with the incident.
“We are all very surprised by this. We are at a loss of words. We have a weeding next week Sunday that we were all looking forward to. One of our cousins is getting married. Now instead of enjoying the lead up to the wedding, we have a loss in the family. So it is hurting all of us,” relatives said.
Mannick was described as a hard-working man, who was very humble.