WOMAN, 85, KILLEDBy CECILY ASSON Saturday, September 22 2012
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Raymond Maxime...
FOR THIS year so far, according to Newsday’s statistics, at least 15 persons over the age of 60 have been murdered, with the latest killing taking place yesterday when an 85-year-old retired nurse — who lived a mile from where Indra Gangabissoon, 76, was bludgeoned to death on April 12 — was yesterday found dead on her bed with a gaping wound to her forehead.
Investigators confirmed that they are treating Selma Theresa Ferreira’s death as murder. The mother of two and grandmother of four lived alone at Beaucarro Road in Freeport in a house that is heavily burglar proofed. The woman’s bedroom and an office were ransacked, police reported. Ferreira moved around with the aid of a walker and was a regular worshipper at the Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, located a stone’s throw away from her home.
According to police, at 11.30 am, Ferreira’s unidentified nephew went to visit her and discovered her blood stained body on a bed. Police said they were unsure if the wound was a gunshot or the result of being bludgeoned. Ferreira was last seen alive at 6.30 pm on Wednesday.
Officers led by Supt Johnny Abraham and including Insps Levia and Matthews-Noel, Sgts Parriman and Mohammed and PC Sampson visited the scene. The body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James where an autopsy will be done next Tuesday.
The woman’s son Rodell Ferreira, 60, a maxi taxi driver of McBean, Couva told Newsday his mother did not deserve such a death and is convinced she knew her killer. “It hurts to know that there are people out there who would do this...murder an old lady. It hurts,” Ferreira said.
“All this crime in the country. The criminals feel they can get away. But you will never get away. You all will pay somehow. You will pay for it,” he said.
He described his mother as very independent and even in her old age, wanted to live alone. Although the two rooms were ransacked, Ferreira said it did not appear that anything was stolen.
Abraham yesterday said that while the elderly, are just like anyone else, entitled to their privacy, he urged that people take care of and pay close attention to their aged relatives.
“I am asking persons with elderly parents not to leave them alone for long periods. Check on them everyday.
“Take precaution. The elderly are more vulnerable to criminals than an able- bodied, younger person. And the criminals out there no longer care about whether or not you are a child, or an old person. Respect for human life and dignity is missing,” Abraham said.
Up to late yesterday, no arrest had been made in Ferreira’s murder nor a motive established.
Ferreira’s murder came a mere day after the Senior Citizens Parliament was convened at Signature Hall in Longdenville, where the major issue debated was that of “Elder Abuse”.
Slaughter of the Elderly
Parbatee Thomas, 63, found dead on February 3 at her Macoya home with a bag over her head and a curtain rod around her neck. She was strangled
Kamla Ramnarine, 68, beaten to death in the bedroom of her Princes Town home on February 18
Raymond Maxime, 60, a maxi-taxi driver of Manzanilla was shot dead in full view of his wife and passengers in his vehicle which was proceeding along the Eastern Main Road in Arouca on March 24
Indra Gangabissoon, 78, was fatally beaten at her Freeport home and robbed of her pension cheque. She died hours in hospital on April 14
Peter Bruce, 65, a retired policeman who was gunned down in Whiteland while driving his car en route to his Gasparillo home on April 29
Atwaroo Toophanie, 63, had his throat slit by intruders inside his Barrackpore home on June 14
Frederick Nesbitt, 67, of Laventille was shot while liming at Quarry Road in Laventille and died later at hospital on July 6
Wu Xiu Hua, 60, was shot dead at her Chinese restaurant on the ground floor of her Cunupia home on July 12 by armed intruders
Yang Jiang Hua, 60, the husband of Wu, is also shot in the restaurant but died from his injury at hospital on July 13
Ann Corrion, 89, an elder in the Spiritual Shouter Baptist faith, Corrion was found with her head bashed in at her Siparia home on July 14. Her killer reportedly drank her blood
Kenrick Raphael, 66, a pensioner who was shot dead not too far from his Freeport home as he was liming on July 17
Josiah Hudson Downes, 97, dies on August 15 in hospital several days after he was savagely beaten at his San Fernando home by the ex-lover of his 48-year-old girlfriend
David Harry Mohan, 64, is found dead on August 18 near a staircase in his Ste Madeleine home with wounds to his upper body and a truck tyre placed across his chest
Anita Williams, 65, is strangled at her Mon Repos home on September 16 for reasons not yet known
Gerald Holder, 76, chopped near his Roxborough Estate, Tobago home by a male relative on September 20 and subsequently died at hospital
