No kind words for Penal murder victim

Residents of Penal Rock Road in Penal had nothing nice to say about a 38-year-old man who was gunned down near his home on Tuesday.

Kerdis "Coutou" Thomas of Boucaud Trace off the Penal Rock Road, was chased and shot by gunmen at around 9.45 pm. He died at the scene.

On Wednesday, Newsday visited his home but no one appeared to be at home. A resident, who said Thomas was his cousin, was frank: "Most people here would not say anything nice about him. He was a pest. Coutou was a thief and bully. He was not working anywhere."

"He was my relative, but he was very outta-timing. He was charged with different offences over the years. He still had a High Court matter pending for rape and robbery."

Another resident said, "I live good with people eh. Some people do not know how to do that. Some people must work for what they want." Thomas was not married and had no children.

Residents said his mother lived abroad and they redirected Newsday to relatives who live further along Penal Rock Road. Those relatives politely declined to comment but consented in sharing a photo of Thomas.

Reports are Thomas was walking towards his home after leaving a nearby parlour when two gunmen, who were hiding in some bushes, ran out and began shooting at him. Thomas ran but collapsed a short distance away near a box drain.

Barrackpore police later found Thomas’ body. Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region III) detectives also responded and gathered evidence.

No one has been arrested, and the investigators do not yet have a motive. His body was later removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy. Investigations are ongoing.