[UPDATED] Investigations continue into body found in car near San Fernando cemetery

THE apartment where Osie Leonard lived at Block F Embacadere, San Fernando remained locked and quiet yesterday, mere hours after his body was found in the trunk of a car in the nearby Roodal Cemetery.

Neighbours continued their normal Sunday chores – washing cars, liming, seemingly unmoved by the killing. They were hesitant to talk to the media.

An elderly man who Newsday was told was a neighbor said Leonard, 37, lived alone.

Speaking from the driver’s seat of his car, the neighbor said: “He was a bachelor. His family moved out to their own home somewhere in La Brea or Point Fortin some time ago. The house has been locked up since he went missing.”

The neighbor said he knew Leonard worked but did not know where.

Another man said he was only now learning of the death. He said he did not know Leonard well but referred to him as a quiet, easy-going guy.

Leonard contested the local government electoral district of Springvale/Paradise in the San Fernando City Corporation for the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) in 2019,

Political Leader of the MSJ David Abdulah observed a minute silence for Leonard during a news conference at his Lord Street, San Fernando headquarters on Sunday.

He recalled Leonard to be a passionate young man who was unhappy with the injustice and inequality that existed in TT.

“He was committed to the idea of social justice, about injustice and discrimination and that so many people were barely surviving in this country.”

He said he last met Leonard about one month ago and he was very upbeat.

“He told me he was still doing community work in Embacadere trying to source hampers for families who were trying to put food on their tables. May his soul rest in peace,” Abdulah said.

The body of the political activist was found in the trunk of an abandoned rented car at the Roodal Cemetery, San Fernando, on Saturday night.

He was said to be the father of three.

Police reports indicate that Leonard rented a silver Nissan Versa from a man of Union Hall, San Fernando on April 21 and was supposed to return the car that same day at 6 pm but did not.

Leonard’s family later contacted the car’s owner to enquire about his whereabouts, and upon checking the GPS installed in the vehicle, on August 24, the owner realised the car was parked at the cemetery for about 21 hours.

The owner went to the cemetery to check on the car only to discover Leonard’s body in a bloodied state in the trunk. He was dressed in a black tee shirt and brown three-quarter pants and was on his side, in a crouched position. He appeared to have been shot in the head.

Police were contacted and PC Sankar and homicide division officers responded and are continuing investigations.

No motive has yet been established for the killing.

This story and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE body of a political activist found in the trunk of an abandoned rented car at the Roodal Cemetery, San Fernando, on Saturday night, has been identified as that of Osie Leonard.

Leonard, 39, was a father of three and lived at Block F Embacadere, a short distance from where his body was found.

He contested the Springvale/Paradise seat in the last local government elections for the Movement for Social Justice.

Police reports indicate that Leonard rented a silver Nissan Versa from a man of Union Hall, San Fernando on April 21 and was supposed to return the car that same day at 6 pm but did not.

Leonard’s family later contacted the car’s owner to enquire about his whereabouts, and upon checking the GPS installed in the vehicle, on August 24, the owner realised the car was parked at the cemetery for about 21 hours.

The owner went to the cemetery to check on the car only to discover Leonard’s body in a bloodied state in the trunk of the car. He was dressed in a black tee shirt and brown three-quarter pants and was on his side, in a crouched position. He appeared to have been shot in the head.

Police were contacted and PC Sankar and homicide division officers responded and are continuing investigations.