The body of an unidentified male was discovered by police in Fond St. Jacques, Soufriere today.
The body bore one gunshot wound to the abdomen. It is believed that the man was shot and left in the forest for close to three days.
Police had searched the area earlier for a missing farmer, Victor Jn Phillip, who they later discovered with a gunshot wound to his head.
A group of residents from the community had joined the police and one man spotted the body of the unidentified man a few hours later. The police were alerted and another team was dispatched to the area to collect evidence at the crime scene.
The body was removed from the forest around 6 p.m. today and transported to Rambally’s Funeral Parlour.
Police officials spoke with members of the community and urged them to be on the lookout for anyone who might be suspicious and to report it. Members of the community believe that the killer might be someone outside of Soufriere.
Residents are under the impression that the killer might have crossed the river, separating Soufriere from Choiseul, to enter the farm. It is speculated that there is a marijuana farm in the forest. Residents believe that Jn Phillip and the unidentified man may have trespassed the farm and were shot and killed as a result.
The dead farmer’s son, Keran Jn Phillip had told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that his father had told him that he saw some strange men walking around the area.
Keran said his father had suggested that the men may have planted marijuana in the forest, but he never interfered with them or confronted them.
Residents are concerned about the situation and are calling on the police to find the killer so that the community can return to normalcy.
