EXECUTED...Father of 12 murdered in Hanover

No. 130 Friday, August 20, 2010
Twelve broken-hearted children, a mourning common-law wife as well as friends and other relatives are calling on the Lucea Police to act swiftly in apprehending the culprit or culprits responsible for the recent gun slaying of their loved one in the Lances Bay community of Hanover on Tuesday evening.

   The victim is Gerald Grant, a 62 year-old farmer of Campbell Hill. He was killed execution style.
   This reporter traveled to the hills of the Campbell Hill area where Nella Crooks, the bereaved common-law wife, poured her heart out as she spoke about the good person the father of her children was.
   According to her, on Tuesday morning, Grant left home about II a.m., as he normally did and set out for his farm located in another section of the community known as Burnt Ground Hush. She further stated that she received information that he made several stops along the way before meeting his demise about 3:30 p.m.
   Grant reportedly stopped by his brother about noon. After spending about an hour, he went to another friend with whom he conversed up until 2 p.m. Somewhere between the friend’s home and a remaining quarter mile to his farm, he was pounced upon and killed.
   It is alleged that the single bullet, which was fired at close range to the side of the head, took his life. About half an hour later, a group of fishermen who were on their way back from a long trip, discovered Grant’s body in a pool of blood. The Lucea police who were summoned found the victim lying face down with his machete and his cap on the ground close to his body. After processing the scene, the body was taken to hospital where Grant was officially pronounced dead. The body was later removed to the morgue for a post mortem.
   During another interview with a close family member, it was disclosed that Grant may not have been a victim of a family land feud as had been speculated by residents and the police. It is now being alleged that he was killed by a group of gunmen who live in a deserted section of the community. It is also understood that in recent months, the said gunmen had branded him as a police informer.
   Family members related, however, that there was in fact a dispute over land between Grant and other family members. 
   During that period, Grant was forced to seek the assistance of the police on several occasions. It was his contacting the police which reportedly led the gunmen to believe that he had revealed their whereabouts to the lawmen. When contacted, the Lucea Police confirmed that they were aware of these allegation and will be carrying out intensive investigations.