Hours after Kevin Fuller and two other men were gunned down at a Debe bar, a Penal cattle farmer, who is a close friend of the Fuller family, was also shot dead in the fields near his home.
Dave George, 53, of Church Street, Penal Rock Road, died after being shot twice in the head and chest. His body remained lying face down in a pasture off Cochrane Trace for eight hours before he was found by a family member.
Police said they were uncertain whether George’s death was connected to the execution of Fuller, 31, of Palmyra. Fuller was killed along with Terry Edwards, 34, and Sanjay Mahabir, 42, both of Debe, in what police believe to be a reprisal killing at Runway 69 Shorts Restaurant and Bar at Wellington Road on Thursday night.
Speaking at the crime scene yesterday, George’s cousin, Jerome Ferdinand, said George dropped him off at a Marabella market at 4 am yesterday and was supposed to pick him up at 10.30 am.
“When I see 11 am and 12 noon reach and he didn’t show up, I knew something was wrong so I sent my son to look for him in the fields,” Ferdinand said.
He added that shortly before 1 pm, George was found dead close to the area where his 15 cows were grazing.
Another relative who requested anonymity said George had been receiving death threats for the past week from a man who frequented the area where George’s cattle grazed.
“The man had two dogs and he threatened to kill George. I don’t know why,” the relative said.
He explained that George was never married and had no children.
“He was a man who kept to himself. He did not have many friends. All he did was cared for his cows,” the relative said.
A team of officers led by Sgt Darryl Corrie and including Sgt Victor visited the scene yesterday. Police questioned several neighbours but nobody heard any gunshots. The villagers expressed shock over the killing saying George was a quiet man.
District Medical Officer Dr Ockwee viewed the body yesterday and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Investigations are continuing.
