MOTHER TRIES TO SET SON’S BODY ON FIRE

AFTER seeing the body of 33-year-old father of three Mark “Markie Boy” Thomas, lying at the side of a house in Cocorite yesterday, his mother who refused to give her name to the media, attempted to light the body on fire, using gasoline and matches. Newsday understands, that the mother was among the first of those who saw his body after he had gone missing since Friday.
After seeing his body, the clearly emotional mother grabbed a cannister of gasoline and doused the body. She was stopped as soon as she was about to strike the match, and set the body on fire. Newsday understands at about 8.30 am yesterday a man was walking along Freedom Street, Waterhole Cocorite when he noticed the body at the side of a house. He contacted the police and officers of the Western Division Police Service responded. Officers cordoned off the area and a District Medical Officer pronounced him dead on the scene.
Thomas had been missing since Friday, according to police sources. Gunshots were heard on Friday last coming from the area where he was found. However, residents thought nothing of it. On Saturday a missing person’s report was made to police officers of the Western Division.
Newsday was told that Thomas was receiving a disability grant from the government, after being shot in the foot years ago. Sources close to Newsday also revealed that he was known to police, and suspected in several matters.
Relatives told Newsday that while it was rumoured that Thomas was a ‘gunman’ they have never known him to be involved in any criminal activity.
“He was always home,” said one relative, “We never saw him doing anything illegal or underhanded.
Continued on page 2