Two killings push murder toll to 131

The murder toll reached 131 yesterday after two men were killed in separate incidents in Trincity and Morvant. Up to last night, police were hunting for a 44-year-old suspect in connection with the death of Darrel Ross, 29, of Foster Road, Sangre Grande.

Around 8 am, Ross, who was employed as a watchman at Millennium Housing Development, Trincity, reportedly got into a quarrel with another worker. During the exchange, Ross was stabbed several times in the chest. He died on the spot. Police said a hammer and a knife were seized at the scene of the murder.

Employees told police the two were known to be at loggerheads with each other and that arguments were a norm. In the second murder yesterday, officials linked the shooting death of Ralph Browne, 53, of Celestine Drive, Pelican Extension, Morvant, to an ongoing gang war in the area.

Around 1.30 pm, Browne, a carpenter with the Unemployment Relief Programme, was shot by unknown gunmen while standing outside his home. Port-of-Spain Task Force officers who responded to the shooting took Browne to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A second man who was injured during the incident remains hospitalised under police guard. Neighbours reported hearing five loud explosions and a car speeding off. ASP Millet, along with Insp Jacob, Cpl Seecharan, PC Dhill and WPC Andrews of the Morvant CID visited the scene. Cpl Lynch of the Homicide Bureau is investigating.