Zinc sheets caused the death of a thief caught making
off with some of them yesterday morning.
Dead is Anselm Barker also known as Bonny, 38, who
resided at Meadowbank. The suspected shooter was later
taken into police custody but released last evening
following a High Court order.
According to an eyewitness, at around 7 am yesterday
Barker was seen on the roof of the northern building in
the Rahaman's soda factory compound when shots rang out
injuring him. More shots rang out as the man was trying to
limp his way off the roof and the man fell lifeless.
Barker's sister Roslyn Barker said the man worked when
work was available and did other jobs to sustain himself.
Barker has left behind his reputed wife and two children.
Shorab Rahaman, one of the residents of the compound
regularly ravaged by thieves, said he did not see how the
man was shot but he heard the gun go off.
Another relative who lives at the same property noted
that thieves got unto the property with impunity. She said
this occurs often but most of the time when they contact
the police they do not turn up.
She pointed to the buildings with large parts of the
zinc roof missing. She said the men recently were in the
compound ripping away parts of one building but when she
called 911 the operator told her not to worry since if the
men were there for sometime and had not ventured into the
house then they would not harm them.
The western side of the fence surrounding the perimeter
of the large compound has two gaping holes. The area
around the holes seems trampled and well used, with the
tall grass crushed into a regular pathway.
There was even a rope on the ground which was there to
bundle the zinc sheets after they were removed from the
building.
The police in a release yesterday said that the man who
was taken into custody at the Ruimveldt Police Station
refused to cooperate with the police but that his firearm
has been lodged.
He was released after lawyers approached the High Court
on his behalf. He has been placed on $150,000 bail and has
to return to the station today.