Jamaican national among suspected hitmen held over murder of Tain woman

A Jamaican national is one of two suspects now in police custody for the murder of Leilawatie Mohamed, also known as ‘Aunty Leila,’ the mother of four who was shot dead in her Tain Settlement, Corentyne home last week.

Commander of ‘B’ Division Ian Amsterdam told Stabroek News that the second suspect, a 43-year-old Jamaican national of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, was arrested yesterday.

Leilawatie Mohamed

Another suspect, a tattoo artist, also of Rose Hall Town, was taken into custody on Friday.

According to Amsterdam, evidence uncovered during the investigation points to the two suspects in custody as the alleged contracted killers. “The two persons we have in custody are the persons who were probably contracted to do the killing,” the Commander said, while stressing that investigators are still working tirelessly to put the pieces of the case together.

According to a source close to the investigation, the Jamaican national in custody was accused of shooting and killing ex-policeman Ravi Outar at his business place and residence in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne. However, the charge against the accused was dismissed as a result of lack of evidence.

Outar was sitting in his residence when a lone gunman walked up to him and opened fire on June 1o, 2015.  He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital with about five gunshot wounds. He spent a week in hospital before he died.

Mohamed was shot at close range in her Lot 149 Sixth Street home around 11.45 pm last Tuesday night by two men, who broke in and demanded cash. After Mohamed told the men she did not have any money, the gunman placed his weapon to her chin and shot her dead.

Stabroek News was told that the police are working with the theory that Mohamed’s murder was the result of her suspected involvement with a married man. Investigators believe that her death was an execution that was staged to look like a robbery gone bad.

Stabroek News was also told that it is believed that the overseas-based wife of the married man is suspected of involvement in Mohamed’s death. The police later learned that the overseas-based woman is in the country but have been unsuccessful in locating her.

Meanwhile, the source told Stabroek News that investigators are also looking into reports that the husband may have had knowledge of the murder. All Amsterdam would say on the issue was that he was “happy investigators are getting somewhere.”