Five murder suspects held — politician’s son nabbed

A 21-year-old man wanted for the murder of Jillia Bowen, the woman shot dead outside Movie Towne, Invaders Bay, Audrey Jeffers Highway on June 4, was among five murder suspects arrested in a joint police/army exercise carried out on Wednesday night. The man was held in a house at Plaisance Terrace, Laventille, during the joint exercise.

Police sources said yesterday that the suspect will be placed on identification parades today as part of the ongoing investigation. Police officers carrying out investigations into that murder are yet to interview shooting victim Salim Rasheed. Rasheed and Adil Ghani, Bowen’s common-law husband, were both shot several times in the drive-by shooting. Rasheed, an expelled member of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, was hospitalised at a private institution. Another suspect, wanted for the murder of Mark Granger, who was shot dead at a basketball court at St Barb’s two weeks ago was also arrested in the exercise, while a suspect in the shooting death of Don George was also arrested. Two weeks ago, George was gunned down in front of a silk cotton tree at Picton Road.

A suspect in the shooting death of Trevor Bermudez at Pelican Extension on June 18 was also held, while a fifth suspect wanted for the murder of Clarence Brizan on June 8 at Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain was also held in the exercise. A release from the “Interagency Task Force” revealed that the persons arrested are some of the main players in the gang warfare. A 25-year-old son of a politician was also arrested in the exercise and charged with possession of a pistol and five rounds of ammunition. He was held at a house with four others. The man has a matter pending in court for another gun related charge. Senior officers told Newsday yesterday that with the arrest of the five suspects they are hoping to make a major breakthrough in those five killings, which all took place this month. The exercise yesterday was led by Supt Errpol Denoon and included ASP Alfred Sealey and officers of the joint police/army Task Force. It was co-ordinated by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard.