The murder toll jumped to 70 yesterday with the killing of nine people, in separate incidents, over the weekend. The victims are: Vincent Powell, 41, of Jamaica, Shermaike Hamlet, 19, Andre "Fly" Lewis, 28, Vishnu Latchman, 55, of Tunapuna, Robert Khan, 35, of Moruga, Jevon Cox, 17, of Trou Macaque, Laventille; Daniel Guerra, 8, of Gasparillo, businessman Raseek Khan, 73, of Gasparillo and Brent Tribuce, 29, of San Juan.
Up to late yesterday evening, officers of the Crime Scene Unit and the Homicide Bureau were at Clovis Trace, Maraval probing what they believe could be a tenth murder. Police said they received a report that passers-by stumbled upon a body floating in a drain at Clovis Trace. Cpl J Groden is continuing investigations. Tribuce was found with multiple gunshot wounds at Pump Trace, Laventille, on Sunday.
A report said residents heard loud explosions around 11 pm and when they checked, Tribuce's body was found lying in a drain. Detectives said they had no motive for Tribuce's death. Police said Latchman was at his home in Macoya Extension, Tunapuna. on Saturday when he had an argument with a relative who allegedly choked him and then pushed him away. Latchman fell on the ground and hit his head on a door frame. He was taken to the hospital where he died, police said.
A 31-year-old suspect, held in connection with Latchman's death, remained in police custody last night.
Acting Sgt Singh and PC Peterson, of the Tunapuna CID, are continuing investigations. When officers of the Port-of-Spain Task Force responded to report of gunshots at Trou Macaque. Laventille, they found Cox lying on the ground. Acting Insp Parsons, Sgt A Lawrence, acting Sgt Silverton and a party officers of Homicide Bureau visited the scene. Detectives said Powell was found by passers-by with gunshot wounds along the Eastern Main Road, Barataria on Friday around 9 am.