Police probe two murders

Homicide officers are investigating the deaths of two men yesterday. The victims are Jason Betaudier, 29, who was found dead at Dibe Road, Long Circular, and Mark Soonjie, a handyman, 35, of First Trace, Tunapuna. Betaudier was found with multiple wounds to the body while Soonjie died a short distance from his house after he was shot by a gunman. Their deaths pushed the murder toll to 310 for the year and the 43rd since the state of emergency was declared on August 21. A report said around 6.30 am, Betaudier’s sister was on her way home when she discovered his body lying in a track near the family’s house. She immediately notified the police.

His body was viewed by the District Medical Officer and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for an autopsy. Detectives said Betaudier was known to them. They could not say whether he had been stabbed or shot. Investigators had no motive for the killing. Sgt Prescott, of Western Division, and officers of the Homicide Bureau visited the scene. Meanwhile, police have also launched a manhunt for a suspect in Soonjie’s murder. A report said around 10.30 am, Soonjie was at Upper First Trace, Tunapuna, when he was confronted by a gunman. He was shot about the body. Detectives said eyewitnesses identified the gunman as a man known in the area.