TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Though initially a property dispute was posited as the reason for the double murders at Santa Cruz, police are now probing if Norman had been provoked by his brother-in-law, Edgar Vaz, who may have run into huge debts.
Not only were cases registered against Edgar at different police stations, a senior police officer has told Herald that Edgar had also been anticipating the sale of his wife’s property.
It may be recalled that a family dispute over property matters came to a gruesome end when Norman Fernandes of Bambolim had allegedly stabbed his sister, Noreen Fernandes e Vaz, and her mother-in-law, Aurita Vaz, to death, besides seriously wounding his brother-in-law, Edgar, at their residence in Santa Cruz on Monday night. Norman is also reported to have inflicted wounds on himself, before fleeing from the site.
Police sources disclosed to Herald that Edgar had to pay over Rs 10 lakh to a person from a neighbouring village.
“He had borrowed lakhs of rupees from an individual on high interest. The money was primarily to spend on betting in offshore casinos,” a source told Herald on condition of anonymity.
“Days before the attack, Edgar had assured the lender that he would repay the amount once the property of his wife Noreen was sold off. “He had reassured the lender that the property would fetch him over Rs 15 lakh,” the source added.
The police are also gathering details regarding cases, including cheating, bouncing of cheques and a vehicle theft, which were registered against Edgar at different police stations.
“Edgar was reportedly issued summons under Section 138 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which he never responded,” a senior police official told Herald.
Sources also added that the Santa Cruz bungalow, where the brutal murders took place and a Stationery and Xerox shop were allegedly being planned to be sold off, as Edgar had to repay the loan amount.
Police investigations have also revealed that shortly before the brutal murders, Edgar and his wife, who were going through a troubled marriage, had reached home after visiting a religious person.
The police have been intrigued by an anonymous letter, which has been widely circulated in Bambolim and St Cruz.
The flyer, a copy of which is in the possession of the police, criticizes Norman in a property-related matter and goes on to allege the strained relationship between Noreen and Edgar.
What has also complicated matters for the police is that there were reportedly no eye witnesses to the killing of Aurita and Noreen.
“We are still looking out for eye witnesses who may have actually seen the killing take place. The probe is now being expanded as Edgar reportedly had a few guests from Maharashtra at his Santa Cruz home when the incident had occurred. Edgar’s father, Mathias, who has spoken to the police, was reportedly not on the same floor where the murders took place,” said the police official.
Police also wants to know how Norman had managed to get way after allegedly committing the crime.
“Why had the inmates not raised an alarm when the attack happened? How could Norman flee from the site and why was he not nabbed by anybody else or the villagers? Was the attack in retaliation to something that had been prompted inside the house? These are some of the many questions left unanswered and our probe is in progress to uncover what actually had taken place before, during and after the brutal murders,” the police official added.
Despite repeated attempts, North Goa SP Priyanka Kashyap was unavailable to comment on police investigations in the case.
