Kelly Ann Gabriel, the common-law wife of Carapo’s Al Islamia member Deon Peters, is denying that her husband is associated with the murder of state prosecutor Dana Seetahal, SC.
Gabriel, 38, is also denying allegations that Peters is linked to a gang.
Peters, affectionately called “Big Lexx,” was on Friday charged with brothers Rajaee and Hamid Ali, among others, with being a member of a gang under the anti-gang legislation.
The Alis and nine others were also charged with the May 4, 2014, murder of Seetahal, police announced yesterday at a press conference.
Ali (R) is the former coordinator at the now defunct LifeSport Programme in Carapo.
But yesterday, Gabriel, of Pinewood Street, Carapo, denied that Peters was associated with a criminal gang. She described Big Lexx as loving and kind.
“He went out of his way to help others. You can ask anyone around here about him,” said Gabriel, who is also a member of Al Islamia headed by Imam Hassan Ali, the father of the Ali brothers.
“Islam is the only gang that Big Lexx affiliated with. He took his religion seriously. Why the police did not identify the name of the gang he associated?
“Big Lexx was home with me on the night of Dana’s killing. We were shocked when we saw the breaking news on television that night.”
Gabriel lives in a squatting settlement in the community.
Big Lexx and the Alis grew up as children in Carapo, Gabriel said.
“They knew one another for many years in and out of the mosque. They had a respect for one another,” she said.
She said she feels her common-law husband, who joined the Muslim faith seven years ago, will also eventually be charged by the police with Seetahal’s murder.
“If this should happen we will get the entire Muslim community in Carapo to protest,” she said, as tears welled up in her eyes.
At the Maloney Police Station, where Big Lexx was being interrogated since Wednesday, Gabriel claimed the police also played a music video entitled “Unfair Game,” which highlighted the unfair treatment meted out to Ali (R) by the State after he was charged under the anti-gang act. He was charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a gang-related activity in conspiring to murder radio deejay Kevaughn “Lurbz” Savory.
She said someone did a remix of the video with a cache of guns, using Big Lexx’s voice, which he was blamed for and about which he was questioned by the police.
“It was only after the Port-of-Spain prison jailbreak on Friday they charged Big Lexx. As far as I can see he is being made a scapegoat in this whole thing.
“They could do what they want. Allah will have the last say. They are oppressing and provoking us.” she said.
Unfairly targeted
Gabriel said Muslims in Carapo were being targeted and victimised because they were strong in their religion and faith and did not like oppression.
“The Government just want to score political points for the general election to show that they are dealing with crime. But they are not. They are not going after the big fish. Those behind the murders, guns, corruption and drugs are not being dealt with,” Gabriel, a mother of two, said.
Insisting that they wanted no war with law enforcement officers, Gabriel said she had not been able to sleep nor eat since Big Lexx’s arrest.
“My life has gone into disarray. I just want this to end.”
In the company of two other members of the mosque, Ayeisha Reis and Zakiyyah Mohammed, Gabriel said she never expected this to happen.
Reis said twice on Friday police officers visited her Carapo home in her absence.
“On their third visit they broke down my front door and began ransacking my house in the presence of my children. They said they were looking for a man named Corneo, who I don’t know. They attacking not only the men but women as well.
“Every Muslim in the community is now under a microscope. We can’t live in peace.”
Reis said Muslims were also unable to get jobs because they were now deemed terrorists and a danger to society.
Yesterday, a contingent of police officers was seen searching vehicles entering and leaving Race Course Road, leading into Carapo.