Time for two‘murder lists’

THE EDITOR: Dr Varma Deyalsingh of the Association of Psychiatrists of TT considers that the populace has become used to the idea that a high number of murders in TT is “normal.”

To some degree this is true. However, I think that many people may, like myself, have a very clear idea that not all murders are equal.

If you read the reports of the murders committed, you will soon realise that many of the so-called victims are actually criminals themselves. How often have you read that the “victim” has a police record, or “is known to the police?”

There is a huge difference between criminals shooting each other and criminals shooting innocent parties, such as during a home invasion. The former deserve no sympathy and the latter, along with their families, deserve every bit of sympathy we can offer.

It is time to have two “murder lists” published: one for those killed while innocently going about their business and another for those who were involved in criminal activity and, therefore, no loss to the community.

Furthermore, we really do not want to hear the families of slain criminals sobbing loudly for the cameras and claiming, “He was a good boy, he never did nutting wrong.” We have heard that song for too long.

ANN WHITTAKER via e-mail