By Roman Zakaluzny
Maggie Lee's great-grandson slit her throat in a triple murder last week, Trinidadian police alleged yesterday.
Daniel Egard, 18, has been charged with the slaying of Richmond Hill resident Lee, 83, her daughter Lynette Persaud-Litgow, 51, a former BBC anchor, and John Cropper, 59, the husband of another daughter, Angela.
If convicted of murder, Egard faces the death penalty.
Two other island residents have been detained for questioning.
Egard, described by Lee's family as a "distant relative," was arrested yesterday after five days of police questioning while he was under house arrest.
Retired appeals court judge Ulric Cross, a close friend of the Cropper family, said last night the allegation that a relative could be involved in the slayings is "shocking."
Slashes to throats
The bodies of the three victims were found in the bathroom of Cropper's upscale home last Thursday. All three died from slashes to their throats and at least two bodies suffered deep gash wounds. All three victims had their hands bound and mouths gagged.
Cropper's Honda Civic, electronic equipment and jewelry were missing.
Insp. David Nedd of the Trinidad police told The Toronto Sun by telephone "some" of the stolen items had been recovered.
Lee was the mother of 12 children, some of whom live in the Toronto area.
Egard appeared in court yesterday and was held in custody. He did not enter a plea, and bail has not been set.
Illustration: photo by Shirley Bahadur, AP
DANIEL EGARD, 18, the great-grandson of Richmond HIll resident Maggie Lee was arrested for her murder and slayings of two other relatives last week in Trinidad.