21 Feb 2022  |   05:44am IST

Varca murder: Daughter arrested on charges of killing her father Trinidade Martins

Murder motive suspected to be linked to property; Accused placed under arrest after sustained interrogation

Team Herald 

MARGAO: Seventy-two hours after 80-year-old Varca resident Trinidade Martins was bludgeoned to death with iron rods at his home on Thursday evening, his reportedly estranged married daughter, was arrested by the Colva Police on charges of murdering her father, on Sunday evening.

She was placed under arrest after intense interrogation. While the police were tightlipped about the progress of the case and the interrogation of his daughter, who lived elsewhere, Team Herald had picked this angle upon its very first visit to the area when it was doing its own investigation and putting the pieces together. However, in deference to the police investigation Herald held back giving details on points of the investigation which would compromise the probe.

The Colva Police had said right after the murder that the victim, who was staying alone in the house, had several injuries on his body, particularly on his face, clear signs of the fatal blows he received. They have registered an offence under Section 302 of the IPC for committing murder and under Section 449 of the IPC for criminally trespassing into the house.

The police have also recorded statements of five persons in connection with the case. They suspect that the murder might have taken place over property matters however, so far there is no strong evidence. According to reliable sources in the investigating team, the daughter of the deceased was not cooperating with the investigation properly.

The police have attached the blood-stained clothes of the deceased. The post-mortem report has been submitted to the police and the body of the deceased person is still in the morgue at the South Goa District Hospital.

The neighbours of Martins told Herald that a few days back (on February 14) there was a group of people, who came to measure the property where Trinidade was residing. The next day (Feb 15), two or three men came to his house and left after meeting him. However, things seemed to be very smooth, they also said that he was also seen as very normal and attended the Church that morning.