[UPDATED] Moruga woman’s 3rd son shot dead

Mother of nine, Sherma James, has had to go through losing a son to murder for the third time, leaving her with six surviving adult children.

Her son Oba Gill, 31, of Simon Trace, and his friend Brandon Seenath, 34, of Douglas Trace, both of St Mary’s Village in Moruga, were shot dead at around 5.30 pm on April 22.

The shooting happened at Oba’s home, a few houses away from his mother.

Oba, 31, was a father of three and worked as a fish vendor and gardener. Seenath had another address, in the Rio Claro district.

In May 2005, Oba’s brother Lester James, 27, was killed in a police-involved shooting.

Two years later, in 2007, another brother, Italo James, 25, was shot and killed.

Their father, Frank Gill, was charged with murder, and in 2018, he was released from prison after the High Court found him not guilty.

Speaking to Newsday at the family’s home, the bereaved mother, 64, shared fond memories of her children.

She referred to them as “giving children,” adding that for years, they have hosted Christmas treats and distributed hampers to people.

“Anybody who says bad is because of jealousy. Jealousy is the worst thing. We live like one. If one is going to do something, the others would help. Unity is strength, and with strength, there is progress. Some people do not like to see that. But who God bless no man curse,” she said.

“My blessing is not your blessing, and your blessing is not mine. I do not really take on people and their crazy talk. People will say all kinds of things. I do not care what people say about my children.”

James recalled she was cooking at home when she heard the gunshots, never expecting she would have lost yet another son to a shooting. She did not go to look at the body but began bawling non-stop upon learning of Oba’s demise. She said she did not witness anything.

She last spoke to Oba on Sunday when she prepared meals for him and others. She described Oba as a sweet child. She said, as far as she knew, he had no enemies.

The mother said she loved to see young people do something with their lives.

She added, “Anyone who can come to this house can come and get a plate of food, can get anything. People like to blame the government but must do their part too.”

In the double killing, Oba and Seenath were in the garage area, where gunmen opened fire, hitting them.

Oba’s body was found slumped on a chair.

Seenath’s body was face-down nearby on the ground.

The police found ten 5.56 spent casings.

The first responders were Cpl Jointe and PC Burton of the St Mary’s police post.

Supt Birch, acting ASP Ramdath, Insp Ramsaran and acting Sgt Teeluck of the Southern Division also visited.

Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region III, police among them ASP Persad, acting Insp Ousman and Sgt Smith visited the scene and gathered evidence.

The police said the motive was drug-related.

Oba was also the brother of Shumba James.

Shumba was a witness in the trial of the six police officers in connection with the July 2011 shooting deaths of his girlfriend, Alana Duncan, of San Fernando, and two friends, Abigail Johnson and Kerron “Fingers” Eccles, 29, both of St Mary’s Village.

In November 2023, a jury at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain found the accused policemen not guilty.

This story was originally published with the title "Murder victim's brother one of 2 gunned down in Moruga" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE brother of a murder victim was gunned down at his home in St Mary’s Village in Moruga on April 22.

Fisherman Oba Gill, 31, of Simon Trace, died on the spot.

Another person, Brandon Seenath, 34, of Douglas Trace, in St Mary’s Village, was also gunned down in the same incident. The labourer also had another address, in the Rio Claro district.

Gill was the brother of Italo James, who was shot dead in 2007.

Their father, Frank Gill, was charged with murder, and in 2018, he was released from prison after the High Court found him not guilty.

The latest shooting took place at Gill’s home around 5.30 pm. Gill and Seenath were in the garage area, where gunmen started shooting, hitting them.

Gill’s body was found slumped on a chair.

Seenath’s body was face-down nearby on the ground.

The police found ten 5.56 spent casings.

The first responders were Cpl Jointe and PC Burton of the St Mary’s police post.

Supt Birch, acting ASP Ramdath, Insp Ramsaran, and acting Sgt Teeluck of the Southern Division also visited. Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region III, police among them ASP Persad, acting Insp Ousman and Sgt Smith visited and gathered evidence.

The police said the motive was drug-related.

Gill was also the brother of Shumba James. Shumba was a witness in the trial of six police officers in connection with the July 2011 shooting deaths of his girlfriend, Alana Duncan, of San Fernando, and two friends, Abigail Johnson and Kerron “Fingers” Eccles, 29, both of St Mary’s Village.