cops believe ‘shot called’ from prison

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. (Trinidad Express Photo by Curtis Chase)

A SHOT believed to be called from behind a prison wall has resulted in the shooting death of a 54-year-old Petit Valley state witness, who was shot while in her mini-mart Sunday in Trinidad.

The victim is Guyanese-born Judy Rajwanti Badri, who lived at the corner of Morne Coco and Cameron Roads in the twin-island Republic.

She was found lying in a pool of blood in her shop, shortly after 13:00 h.

Police said two years ago Badri’s daughter, Melissa, was chopped to death at her home while the leg of another daughter, Sue-Mara Akong, was severed in the incident. Melissa, a UTC employee, was attacked by a cutlass-wielding man, who ran amok in their home on July 3, 2005.

A 46-year-old Petit Valley man has been charged with the murder of Melissa and attempting to murder Sue-Mara Akong. Police said Badri was one of the main witnesses in the case. Residents who gathered at the scene said a few weeks ago they received information that a “shot was called” from within the prisons to execute Badri.

But police said Badri may have been killed by someone who wanted to takeover her business.

The villagers also described Badri as a very loving and hard-working woman in the community. Residents told police they heard two loud explosions coming from the shop and saw two men fleeing the scene.

A check was made later and the victim was discovered on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. The suspects, apparently, pretended to be customers and ambushed and shot the woman.

The District Medical Officer, who viewed the body, told investigators death was instantaneous. A police team, led by Supt Dick, Insp Dan, Sgts Veronique and Harford, along with PCs Romeo and Rose, of Port-of-Spain Homicide, Western Division and Special Anti-Crime Unit T&T visited the scene and are continuing investigations.

A report in the Trinidad Newsday stated that Badri was one of the key witnesses for the prosecution in her daughter’s murder trial which is still before the courts.

She was supposed to testify against the man who is accused of killing her daughter Melissa on July 3, 2005. (Excerpted from the TRINIDAD EXPRESS/TRINIDAD NEWSDAY)