Ex-con charged for cemetery murder

AN EX-CONVICT will appear before a Siparia magistrate today charged with the brutal murder of 17-year-old schoolboy Elias Thomas, who was found dead in a cemetery near his Oropouche home last week. An autopsy revealed Thomas was beaten, stabbed, buggered and left to die in the cemetery. Thomas’ father, Noel, discovered the body while making his way home from making a missing person report, after the teen failed to return home. The suspect allegedly confessed to the murder in a written statement to police following his arrest on Thursday. Acting on instructions from Director of Public Prosecu-tions Geoffrey Henderson, the suspect was charged Saturday night and is expected to appear before a Siparia magistrate today.

The suspect, who had previous convictions for larceny and robbery, reportedly told police he attacked the youth because he wanted to rob him to get money to purchase cocaine. During the attack, the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted the teen. The unemployed man, of Bel View, South Oropouche, was one of two persons detained for questioning. The other one was subsequently released. The Form Four student of  Fyzabad Composite, was found dead at Oropouche public cemetery by his father Noel on Wednesday morning. Police later seized a hammer and ice-pick, which they found near the body.