Relatives of Troy Koster called `Baccoo’ and ‘Shine Rice’ yesterday questioned what could have sparked his brutal murder on Sunday and have denied reports that he was a thief.
“He [was] not no thief. He [was] not that type of person. He [was] a hard-working person even when he deh home. He [was] a hard worker,” his aunt Wendy Hanover told Stabroek News yesterday, responding to reports that the man was accused of stealing some raw gold.
Koster who was also known as Troy Hanover was chopped to death at Mousie Landing, Konawaruk in Region Eight on Sunday. His body was transported to the city yesterday and is at the Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination which is scheduled for tomorrow.
According to relatives, his belly was cut open and there was a chop wound near his throat when they viewed the body at the parlour.
Up to press time last evening, the police were still looking for the suspect and were trying to ascertain why the shop where the incident occurred was torched shortly after the man was killed.
Police in a press release had said that they are investigating the murder which occurred around 2 am. Investigations so far revealed that the deceased was involved in an argument with another man during which he was chopped about the body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahdia Hospital.
Later, the proprietress of the place where the men were staying left to make a report at the Mahdia Police Station and upon returning with the police found that her building was destroyed by fire. Four men were taken into police custody to assist with investigations. At press time last evening it was unclear if they had been released.
Speaking to Stabroek News another aunt, Penny, said that the 40-year-old man last stayed at her Lot 114 Meadow Brook Gardens house. She said that he had been mining in the interior since he was 15 years old and sometimes years would pass before they saw him. When he left her home, he said he was going in the “bush” but did not say where.
She recalled that around 10 am on Sunday, a relative called and informed her of the tragedy and she was left traumatized and couldn’t believe that the information was true.
Relatives told this newspaper that up to now they have not been informed of what transpired but “God is in charge of everything. We just leave it in the hands of God”.
Koster was described as a cool and jovial person who was always kind to his relatives.
He leaves to mourn his mother Desiree and seven siblings.