Common-law husband, wife shot dead in St Joseph

A romance that lasted for more than ten years was snuffed out by gunmen on Sunday evening in Bangladesh, St Joseph after men in a car drove past a group of people and fired several shots, killing 33-year-old Keron Rampersad and his common-law wife Crystal Heeralal. Relatives of both victims told Newsday yesterday the two were inseparable.

Rampersad moved in to the area a little more than ten years ago, and settled with his family a few houses away from Heeralal’s home. They met and started an on-again off-again relationship that would last a decade.

“To me, they were really lovey-dovey,” one relative said.

“They were always around each other. They would fall out one minute, then they would kiss and make up the next.”

Newsday was told, on Sunday Heeralal and a friend, Shamilla St John, were heading to Heeralal’s home. Rampersad was returning home as well, after visiting his cousin. The couple met on the road and were with their friend when the gunmen attacked, wounding all three.

Rampersad and Heeralal were declared dead at hospital, while St John was attended to and discharged.

The victims’ relatives said neither Rampersad nor Heeralal complained of being threatened, or having any previous altercations.

“We were at a family funeral when we heard the news, and we rushed down to the street,” said Heeralal’s brother.

Relatives believe the murders happened because of an ongoing turf war in the area.