Criminologist: Child killing indicator of frightening recklessness

CRIMINOLOGIST Darius Figuera says the killing of five-year-old Anika Guerra during an attack aimed at her father is an indication of a frightening recklessness among criminals who no longer care about causing collateral damage.

The girl and her father Enrico were shot at their home at St Mary’s Village, Moruga, on August 20. Enrico died on the spot and Anika died at the Princes Town District Health Facility.

Figuera said the continued use of illegal and illicit assault rifles meant collateral damage would become more common.

“In the process of going to kill your target, if you’re using the assault rifle as a weapon of extermination, that means collateral damage. That means we don’t really care.

“It indicates a level of aggression on the ground that is even disturbing for the game, because there are certain rules that govern the game and the killing of the little girl yesterday, that is a rule that was broken. What we see now is a level of aggression that is breaking every rule, which is a frightening reality.”

Figuera explained that "the game" was the term used to describe the activities involved in the illicit trade in guns, drugs, etc.

“You are engaged in an illicit activity, which means you are subject to the law, and then you have power relations within the game that lead to violence within the game.

"It is a classic game, because not all that occurs in the game is in keeping the rule of the law, because on all sides you have corrupt elements. What they say is what it amounts to is a game, because everything is not what it is supposed to be and what it seems to be.”

He explained that such actions meant the criminals were daring the National Security Ministry to catch them.

“They are sending a message to the national security apparatus to take its best shot, they’re calling them out.

"It is a frightening development, because if they’re willing to undertake that type of recklessness, what is to stop them from opening up on a crowd of children, women, aged people, anyone, if their target disappears into that crowd?

"That is the frightening reality we have to look at now as citizens who are simply bystanders to this whole affair.”

Figuera said there were specific individuals who had adopted such attitudes and no longer cared about the rules.

“We continue to see surgical hits taking place, precision hits taking place, and alongside the tradition of the rules of the game, we’re getting these reckless acts.

"What eventually is going to happen, as always happens in the life of the game, they will go to parang the wrong house and then they will feel the weight. It is only a matter of time until they’re going to run into those in the game who insist on abiding by the rules, and there will be a battle within the game, because not everybody in the game believes you must go about the game in that manner, because, as they say, they have children too.”

Criminologist: Public frustrated, desensitised

Criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad said he thought the population had reached a point where they were both frustrated by the violence but also desensitised.

“It’s possible that other than the families that are affected, the society might just shrug it off and say that’s part of living in Trinidad. That kind of complacency is certainly not good enough. It’s not just about children being killed, but people being killed in general. Even if it’s an adult it’s just as grave in my mind as a child being killed, because people don’t deserve that.”

He said the complacent feeling came out of a feeling of hopelessness as people had given up on the ability of the criminal justice system to do anything tangible when crimes were committed.

“We are at a point where sometimes there are people who know who the perpetrators are. Sometimes we have evidence on video, people give information. All of these things and you can’t help but wonder how is it that you have all these kinds of information, but you can’t get an arrest, you cannot secure a conviction.

“When people feel they’re in an environment like this where they are basically helpless victims and can’t count on the criminal justice system and the police to really control the crime situation, they give up and they lose hope. Those who could leave, leave the country and those who can’t reach the point of seeing it as a risk they have to live with.”

Seepersad said government had a responsibility to take a very serious leadership role where crime was concerned. He said while things were being done, they were clearly insufficient when looking at the crime situation.

“There is so many good studies and reports out there that have generated tangible, reasonable recommendations that could be put in place that could make changes when it comes to the crime landscape, whether it’s recommendations about reforms of police services, use of technology, intelligence, changes in the judicial system, things that need to be done in the prison system, the juvenile justice system, within the education system, etc.

“The National Security Ministry and the wider government has a responsibility to look at this research, look at what could be done and put some effort and some money behind some of the things that are needed, especially those that could make even an incremental change in the crime situation. We can’t keep going as we’re going, that is extremely obvious given the crime statistics.”

Police social services assistant head Kirk Pierre said Guerra's relatives were contacted the morning after the killing.

“The wife would have gone to Forensics on Wednesday to identify the bodies. A team from the Victim and Witness Support Unit will be going to the household on Friday. While there, we’ll also be doing work with other residents who have also been affected by this incident.”

Pierre said it would take some time to reach all the residents affected.

“What has happened is a very traumatic and unhealthy thing for all. It will be multiple days’ work with the residents and the wife and the household, in terms of getting them to cope and regulate their emotions from this particular situation. We hope some of the work and support we give the residents will bring some healing and ability to cope with this very difficult situation.”

Multiple attempts to reach Gender and Child Affairs Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy for comment were unsuccessful up to press time.