It was only 21 hours before, that the 16th murder was recorded in Cayon, when a woman was shot dead in what police are describing as a domestic dispute.
In the incident on Friday however, killed was the manager of a retail store, known as “Big Sale”, located on Fort Street, in the shopping district of Basseterre.
Though police are again slow in providing details to the media, what MiyVue.com has learnt is that the incident took place either just before 9:00pm or shortly thereafter, as the victim made his way home from the retail store, after a busy VAT Reduction Day Sale. He was killed on James Phipps Street, in front of his residence, opposite the Beach Allen Primary School.
Neighbours in the district of Taylors, just northeast of downtown Basseterre, and in the general vicinity of the popular Washington Archibald High School, said that they heard shots but were unable to distinguish the exact location from which they originated.
It was a short while after, that it was discovered that the businessman, whose name is said to be Govind Mirchandani, was found lying in his own blood, dead from the wound or wounds he sustained. His one year old baby and his wife, who only recently moved to St. Kitts to live with her husband, were believed to be at home at the time, when the victim was killed just before entering his home.
Some residents have indicated that the businessman, who is of Indian
extraction, usually made his journey home via taxi, every night, after closing the store; sometimes with his baby and wife, but it is not believed that on this particular occasion, they were in his company.
As of Saturday morning (15th December, 2012), police indicated that investigations revealed the shooting was predicated by a robbery, and after a joint manhunt following an anonymous tip, four persons were taken into custody to assist with investigations.
There was no indication about what cash or other valuables might have been gained by the assailants.
As a small crowd of Taylors residents gathered, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening, police continued their investigations. The body of the victim remained in the location where it was found, for hours, before being removed.
The victim was described by his Taylors neighbours as a very friendly man who got along well with folks in the area. But he was also described as a no nonsense man who once chased a would be robber from his store, all the way down Fort Street, to retrieve items believed to have been stolen from the Big Sale store. Some other neighbours said he was the type of person who would have tried to defend himself from his attackers.
Neighbours commented in disgust, some saying, “people work so hard for their money and these robbers just want to take it away from you, instead of looking for work.” Another lady said that they “are sickened by the killing and all some people want is an easy life, instead of working for what they want.”
Others wondered about the state of the wife and one year old baby boy, whom neighbours recounted, was usually seen playing in the yard of their residence and on the streets with his father. Now, all that will forever be no more, now that the father’s life has been suddenly robbed for eternity.
The Big Sale store opened for business in St. Kitts in April last year and the victim was here serving as manager, on behalf of his brother, who is the owner.