Less than a month after he escaped from the Siparia Police Station, a 31-year-old murder accused was wounded during a reported shootout with police at his home in Laventille yesterday. According to police reports, around 7 am detectives of the Port-of-Spain CID, led by ASP Ajith Persad, went to the suspect's house on Wharton Street, Laventille, to conduct a warrant. The suspect reportedly came out through the front door with two other armed men.
Police investigators said the trio began shooting at the lawmen who returned fire. The suspect was shot three times in the torso and legs, while his accomplices managed to run away through a track next to the house. While checking the crime scene, police recovered 15 kilos of marijuana with a street value of $150,000 buried near the house.
The injured man was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he remained warded under police guard up to late yesterday. He was listed in a stable condition. He is expected to be charged with almost a dozen charges, including escaping lawful custody and shooting with intent.
The suspect escaped from police custody on three occasions over the last three years. His last escaped from the police on October 8. Shortly before his escape from the Siparia Police Station last month, he was charged with the murder of Lennox Bellerand, who was shot dead near the Success/Laventille Health Centre on November 12, 2009.
He has also managed to escape while under police guard at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and while being evaluated at the St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital. Insps Sahadeo Singh and Anthony Nesbitt and Cpls Charles Budree and Sirju were also involved in the man's arrest.