Pensioner among two more killed

A pensioner and a 44-year-old man were murdered in East Dry River and Laventille yesterday. Their murders brought the murder toll for the year to 77. In the first incident, around 4 am 65-year-old Gregory Alexander was at his Clifton Hill, East Dry River, home when he was awakened by the sound of a window pane being broken. Police said he went to his living room to check on the disturbance and was greeted by two intruders.

Without warning they began shooting at him. He was shot several times and collapsed. He died on the scene. The gunmen escaped in a waiting vehicle which was parked a short distance away from Alexander’s home. Investigators have ruled out robbery as the motive behind his killing as his relatives confirmed nothing was missing from his house.

Homicide detectives were said to be working on the theory the gunmen were targeting one of Alexander’s younger relatives who sometimes stayed with him. Meanwhile, less than 12 hours after the first murder, homicide detectives were summoned to Beverly Hills, John John, for what was believed to be a reprisal attack for Alexander’s killing. Police said residents reported hearing gunshots around 2 pm yesterday.

When they checked they found a man’s bullet- riddled body in a empty lot. He was later identified as Junior Banfield, 44, of Building Five, Plaisance Terrace, John John. He was well known to police. Police believe both murders were part of an ongoing gang feud between rival gangs in East Dry River and John John.

Post-mortems on both men’s bodies are expected to take place at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, later today. Banfield had a string of convictions. ASP Ajith Persad, Insp Maharaj and Cpl Charles Budrie, of the Port-of- Spain CID, are probing both murders.