Relatives of murdered Mt Lambert man threatened: You're next

Hours after he was gunned down near his home, the relatives of a Mt Lambert man received a warning via WhatsApp that they could be next.

Marlon Moraldo, 42, was shot dead near his home on Mt Lambert Circular Road on Monday afternoon.

Two others, including Moraldo's younger brother Akil, were wounded in the attack.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Tuesday, a relative who asked not to be named admitted Moraldo sold cocaine, but said he did so without violence.

He said an older relative was also threatened by the killers.

"They sent messages last night and they said 'You and (relative's name called) are next.' They sent those messages to a close relative of Marlon's."

Despite the threat to their lives, the relative said Moraldo's family was not fearful.

"I spoke to the older relative who the threat was aimed at up to last (Monday) night, and he was more concerned over getting drinks for the wake. I told him now was not a time to think about a wake, but he isn't a person to live in fear."

The relative told Newsday Moraldo was more concerned with women than making trouble and did not think he would be killed in a reprisal shooting.

"Since he was involved in drugs I always thought they would come to rob him.

"I know there were rumours circulating that he (Moraldo) was killed in reprisal for another murder in Mt D'Or. But it wasn't Marlon who was responsible. He was a cool person, really easy-going, and despite the business he was involved in, he enjoyed maintaining peace and avoiding violence."

Another relative said Moraldo had been in the process of leaving the drug trade by starting legitimate businesses and buying land in Tobago up until his murder.