Taxi driver shot dead while searching for hotel

BLACK FRIDAY bad luck yesterday fell upon a taxi-driver who was killed, and his body dumped in Vistabella. The body of Michael Raymond, of Southern Main Road in California, was discovered around 7 am at Sophia Street, off Agnes Street. Raymond was identified by his wife, Michelle, who had reported him missing yesterday morning. Her worst fears came true when she positively identified the body at the San Fernando Mortuary after hearing a midday news report a man’s body was found. Investigations have revealed that Raymond, who plied the San Fernando to Couva route, picked up two men in his silver-grey B-14 Nissan Sentra, who requested to go to Villa Capri Hotel at Agnes Street. A female passenger also entered the taxi.

Police learned that as Raymond drove around Vistabella searching for the hotel, two shots rang out. Residents in the area told police they heard loud explosions around 3 am. The woman was dropped off before the killing, and is assisting police in investigations. Raymond’s body was discovered by residents in the area around 7 am. He was dressed in a navy blue pants, and a white jersey with red trim. A pair of brown shoes was found next to the body. A woman told police that around 5 am she looked outside as her husband was leaving for work, but there was no corpse on the road at that time. Police officers from the San Fernando Homicide Division and Marabella Police are continuing investigations.