No motive behind second Tobago murder

A 20-year-old man has become the second murder victim in Tobago for 2005. But senior police investigators on the island are baffled as to the motive behind the murder of Larry Renwrick Phillips, of Moriah, in an apartment building at Glen Road Branch Two yesterday morning. Fully clad in a white vest and blue jeans, a blood-soaked Phillips was found lying in the apartment’s bathroom with a piece of  rope tied around his feet and a small stab wound to his heart. Dareem Picton, of Sangre Grande suffered a punctured lung and was rushed to the Scarborough Regional Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

He is employed with FT Farfan and Sons, Tobago branch. A neighbour reported hearing noises in the apartment around 4.30 am but received a call for assistance from Picton at around 7.30 am. However Phillips was already dead. When police arrived on the scene they found a cutlass and a small sharp knife, which they believe was the murder weapon. Two empty wallets were also found. The victim was described by a friend as a quiet young man and was said to be always involved in the annual Moriah Ole Time Wedding heritage celebration. DCP Oswyn Allard, who is in Tobago for the Easter weekend, is spearheading investigations.