RELATIVES of slain Riverside Road, St Joseph, businesswoman Tricia Marajh said that since the beginning of the year, she began receiving threats to her life—but despite several reports made to the police, nothing was done.
Marajh, 37, was killed just after 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday in what relatives described as a “hit”.
When the Express visited the family home yesterday, located off Riverside Road, St Joseph, a sign near the entrance to the compound read “D Duck Ranch Poultry Depot”, with the house located up a slight incline.
“She was a mother, a wife and a businesswoman,” said one of her relatives, who asked not to be named. The relative said Marajh had two daughters, ages 19 and 18, and a nine-year-old son.
Asked why she was killed, the relative said he did not know.
“But since the year start, she was being threatened with death. But yesterday (Wednesday) was not a robbery, it was a hit,” he said.
Asked if it may have been an extortion attempt, the relative said he could not say, and added that the people who had been threatening her never asked for money.
Asked if she had borrowed from a money lender, he replied that to best of his knowledge, she had not been owing anyone.
He said following the first threat, she made a report to the St Joseph Police Station and even made reports to the Extortion Unit.
“She made numerous reports to all of them—Extortion Unit, St Joseph Police and even Task Force officers,” he said, adding that nothing was done.
Asked if he wanted to see her killer caught and jailed, he replied: “What’s justice for a life lost? We as well as our entire community are upset about this, as justice cannot bring no life back.
“Everyone who knew her, loved her.
“I myself was a few years older than her, but she was the popular one,” he added. “She had a soft heart and she was the kind of person who helped anyone who asked.”
The Express was told that in addition to her dessert and cake company, T’s Tasty Treats, Marajh also bought and sold used cars.
In a statement posted to social media yesterday afternoon, one of Marajh’s daughters paid tribute to her mother.
The post read: “I love you so much and I can’t believe this right now. Just yesterday you were here with all of us and now you’re gone in seconds. It’s so sad and it hurts a lot. I hope we can get you the justice you deserve and need. I wish, I was there with you so you would not have been alone and frightened.”
The post continued: “You and God alone knows how you probably felt and your last memories before you left us. You taught me a lot on this life and you always wanted the best for all of us.
“I know you’re here with us still and I hope you stay and watch over us and give us signs. You was not ready to go and you were still young with a lot to live for but they took that from you and they took you from me.
“I’m trying to be strong for my siblings and dad. It’s just not easy right now. I went to study and just could not focus at all and I broke down crying a couple of times. I’m saying my prayers to you and I hope you hear me out. I miss you a lot and this was so unexpected and frightening.”
Yesterday, the Express reached out to several senior Northern Division officers to verify claims that Marajh had filed reports of threats against her life, but up to last night there was no response.
In Wednesday’s incident, police said around 4.35 p.m. Marajh was called out of her home by someone to view a gold-coloured Nissan Tiida. While looking at the vehicle, one man wearing a mask got out of the back seat, approached her, and shot her multiple times.
Upon hearing the shots, shocked relatives ran out, but by that time the Tiida had already sped off.
The relatives picked her up and took her to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, in Mt Hope, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
She is the sixth woman killed for the year.
