DRIVER RAMS TWO BANDITS WITH CAR — ONE DEAD

A 32-YEAR-OLD man who killed one of two bandits after they robbed him, was being detained last night by police for questioning. Police said the Tarouba Village, San Fernando man slammed his car into the bandits on Sunday night. One of them, Ryan Rampersad, 26, of Williamsville, died at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) yesterday. The other bandit is still warded. The drama began Sunday night when the man parked his car at Harmony Hall Road near San Fernando at around 11:40 pm. The man, a rigger by trade, reported to the Gasparillo police he had been partying during the night, but stopped because he felt sleepy. As he sat in his car, a police report stated, two men confronted him, and held a broken bottle to his neck. According to the report, the men robbed him of TT$60 and US$5. The bandits took his car keys, police said, and threw them into a nearby river, and then escaped on foot. According to the report, the man used a tool to start the engine.

The report stated the man sped off in the direction of the bandits and caught up with them about 300 yards away on Harmony Hall Road. The report stated that the man rammed his car into them, and they fell on the road. Police said the man then went to the Gasparillo Police Station and reported the incident. Rampersad died of severe injuries to his head yesterday morning. An autopsy on the body revealed that cause of death was due to cranio-cerebral injuries and haemorrhage. Police immediately held the robbery victim and, up to last night, he was being detained at the Gasparillo Police Station. Police investigators said a report on the incident is to be compiled and will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions on whether charges would be laid against the man. Acting Cpl Steve Persad is continuing investigations.