WESTERN BUREAU

At press time last evening, the distraught family was still wrestling with the reality that one member's life was snuffed out by gunmen.

Investigators, on the other hand, were still in limbo as to the motive behind the brutal slaying of Richard Farrier, 36, a scuba diver instructor from Orange Bay Road in Logwood district, Hanover.

The father of five was at home with four of his children and his common-law wife when gunmen forced their way into his unfinished three-bedroom concrete dwelling, as they slept at 1:30 a.m. yesterday. They were awaken by the gunmen, three of whom were armed with guns.

Demanded money

The men demanded money, but Farrier told them he had none. His youngest child - nine months old and the eldest, 10, were awaken during the ordeal and reportedly watched as the marauders pumped five bullets into his body - two to the head, two to the back and one to his neck. The men escaped taking a Nokia cellular phone.

"I have no idea why they wanted to kill him," said a relative.

Police were still treating as speculation, reports that Farrier may have discovered something of value at sea, which his killers believed he had in his possession. "We have heard it, but there is nothing to substantiate that," an officer told The Star.

"If him did have money him would a finish him house fi him family long time," remarked a family member, a point stoutly supported by neighbours. Farrier had been struggling to complete his house since 2004.