'Toby' killed for contracts in Maloney

Marlon “Toby” Charles was not a saint, but he was a father and a businessman.

So said relatives of his while awaiting the results of an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James earlier today.

Charles of Jacobin Avenue, Maloney, was shot dead on Wednesday morning at Building 16, a stone's throw away from his house.

Relatives told Newsday they believe Charles was killed because he refused to pay up to people in the area after he was awarded a contract to refurbish the railings in the HDC-controlled buildings near his home.

“He got the contract two months ago, and as soon as people heard, they began approaching him. People wanted money and other things, and they were threatening him. He paid some and others he didn’t pay. They 'taxed' him a lot of money too,” one relative told Newsday.

Relatives said he tried his best to protect himself and stayed inside most of the time, but yesterday he was caught outside by gunmen.

Police reports said at about 10.30 am Charles was in Building 16 with another man when gunmen pulled up and shot them both. Charles died at the scene and the other man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

Newsday understands Charles was the father of four, the eldest of whom is still in primary school.

Relative added that he ued to live in Sea Lots but when his house burned down he moved to Maloney.

The autopsy confirmed he died of multiple gunshot wounds.