It has hit close to home now.......

pablo_tt

WEEPING DAUGHTER: Sue Mara Akong sheds tears as she is consoled by a relative after learning of the death of her mother, Rajwanti "Judy" Badri, inset, outside Badri's mini-mart yesterday in Petit Valley. Four years ago, Badri witnessed the murder of her daughter Melissa Akong while Sue Mara lost her left leg in the attack. -Photo: Curtis Chase

WHY was Rajwanti "Judy" Badri killed?

Who would have wanted the 52-year-old, who had the traumatic experience of seeing one of her daughters murdered and the other badly injured, dead?

Why did the killer(s) leave everything untouched in the mini-mart that the woman owned and operated?

These are the questions that have police and residents of Petit Valley area, baffled yesterday afternoon. Reports state that around 1.30 p.m. Badri was in her mini-mart, commonly known as Ms Judy Shop when a "customer" walked in and shot her at point-blank range, once in the head. Neighbours nearby said that they did not hear a thing and were only alerted to the death by other neighbours.

Four years ago, Badri saw one of her four daughters, Melissa Akong, 21, murdered. In that cutlass attack, another one of her daughters Sue Mara Akong, lost her left leg while another jumped into a nearby river to escape. That attack occurred on July 3, 2005, a Sunday as well.

The tragic death of her daughter then left the woman on suicide watch at hospital.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Cameron Road and Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley. While Badri lay face up on the floor of her mini-mart, one of her dogs scraped the gate and tried to jump over the five-foot-high gate to get closer to its owner, as residents clamoured to get a closer look at the body. Badri was described as a "nice person" who would at times allowed her customers to pay less than the price of the goods, if they did not have the cash.

Sue Mara Akong, 21, whose left leg was hacked off in the incident four years ago, returned to the area yesterday after she and her sister Aura Akong were moved out of the house following the attack four years ago, and had since moved out of the area. While the relatives allowed their grief to flow, residents murmured that the area was still a safe place to live.

Dexter Simon was charged with the murder of Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) worker Melissa Akong, as well as the attempted murder of Sue Mara. The matter against Simon began in the High Court last year but had to be aborted after the presiding Judge, Justice Anthony Carmona, said that he was related to the victim's family.

The matter is yet to be recalled at the High Court.

Homicide detectives are continuing investigations.

-with reporting by

Peter Christopher

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161503579