The man at the centre of reprisal killings to avenge of murders of teenagers De-neilson Smith and Mark Richards last week, claims he is being made a scapegoat. Those reprisal killings took the life of Morsley Phillip, father of Ethan Phillip, who some in Laventille blame for the murder of the schoolboys. Ethan Phillips has not been charged or arrested in connnection with the killings.
He told the Guardian that some residents of Sogren Trace, Laventille, wanted him dead simply because he moved out of the area and now resides in what they call “enemy territory”.
“People saying I kill the teens but that is old talk. From ever since they had a problem with me in Sogren Trace. So because of that I left the area about five years now. To keep my family safe I end up moving out of the area,” Phillip said, adding that word on the ground was the teens were mistaken for other teenagers who were involved in criminal activity.
He added since his relocation to an area known only as Despers, near the site for Desperadoes pan yard, he has been accused of siding with the enemy and the lives of his parents were threatened as well as his own.
Phillip said, “Since I know myself when I was young Despers and Sogren Trace was one. So to me moving there wasn't a big deal. I try to stay away but they still harass my parents and them. They shoot up the house in 2014. So it's not a new thing, they wanted me dead long time. They shoot up my car with me in it already. They using the killing of the two children now to get to me, but I wasn't there that day. I was by the mechanic fixing my car.”
Phillip said his father, Morsley, a Grenadian by birth, was a good man who always talked to his children and kept them on the right track.
“He always tried to provide for us, show us right from wrong. He was a tradesman from before. He retire now. He had four boys. I am the youngest,” Phillip said.
Phillip, 81, was ambushed at his Sogren Trace, Laventille, home and shot at around 10 pm Friday night. After shooting the pensioner, the gunman attempted to torch the house with the dying man, his wife, daughter-in-law and grandchildren inside. Fortunately, those in the house put out the fire, which started from the couch, before any major damage could be done.
Asked if he was worried about his safety, Phillip said, “It shows me the level men can go at times. But to say I frighten or anything, no. Because I accustomed to that. They always threatening me and trying to kill me. My concern is for my mom and my family.”
Phillip added that he has never retaliated against the men who attempted to take his life and threatened to burn down his parents’ home because he was not “in that.” He said he wanted the senseless killings to stop and for his name to be cleared.
He told the Guardian that some residents of Sogren Trace, Laventille, wanted him dead simply because he moved out of the area and now resides in what they call “enemy territory”.
“People saying I kill the teens but that is old talk. From ever since they had a problem with me in Sogren Trace. So because of that I left the area about five years now. To keep my family safe I end up moving out of the area,” Phillip said, adding that word on the ground was the teens were mistaken for other teenagers who were involved in criminal activity.
He added since his relocation to an area known only as Despers, near the site for Desperadoes pan yard, he has been accused of siding with the enemy and the lives of his parents were threatened as well as his own.
Phillip said, “Since I know myself when I was young Despers and Sogren Trace was one. So to me moving there wasn't a big deal. I try to stay away but they still harass my parents and them. They shoot up the house in 2014. So it's not a new thing, they wanted me dead long time. They shoot up my car with me in it already. They using the killing of the two children now to get to me, but I wasn't there that day. I was by the mechanic fixing my car.”
Phillip said his father, Morsley, a Grenadian by birth, was a good man who always talked to his children and kept them on the right track.
“He always tried to provide for us, show us right from wrong. He was a tradesman from before. He retire now. He had four boys. I am the youngest,” Phillip said.
Phillip, 81, was ambushed at his Sogren Trace, Laventille, home and shot at around 10 pm Friday night. After shooting the pensioner, the gunman attempted to torch the house with the dying man, his wife, daughter-in-law and grandchildren inside. Fortunately, those in the house put out the fire, which started from the couch, before any major damage could be done.
Asked if he was worried about his safety, Phillip said, “It shows me the level men can go at times. But to say I frighten or anything, no. Because I accustomed to that. They always threatening me and trying to kill me. My concern is for my mom and my family.”
Phillip added that he has never retaliated against the men who attempted to take his life and threatened to burn down his parents’ home because he was not “in that.” He said he wanted the senseless killings to stop and for his name to be cleared.