Two more killed, one abducted

Dead is Shawn Samaroo, 21, nephew of pan icon Jit Samaroo who was stabbed to death around 5.30 am yesterday at his Thompson Lane, Tunapuna home.While Albert Hosein, 36 alias "Pando" of Sammy Street, Mt Zion Road, Wallerfield was shot once to the back of his head. His body was dumped along the Blanchisseuse Road,Arima in the vicinity of the Asa Wright Nature Centre about 11.30 pm on Friday night.

In connection with Hosein’s murder, partially blind ex-convict Anthony Ramcharan,39, alias "Cocotte" of Prunette Road, Mt Zion Wallerfield was shot twice in his leg and hip and abducted after Hosein’s body was dumped. No communication from the abductors or ransom demands have been made.

With respect to the death of Samaroo, his sister T’Shura Campbell said "Around 5.30 am I heard a banging on the door and Shawn screaming for help. I opened it and my brother ran in clutching his bleeding chest.

"I contacted the police who rushed him to the Eric Williams Medical Complex where he died."

T’Shura, while claiming she saw nothing, said she had reports of a man lurking in the area earlier that evening and the night before.

"I had often warned my brother about a relationship he had, especially after he started receiving threats."

According to investigations, Samaroo was asleep in his bedroom with his 17-year-old girlfriend, when a man known to her, attacked Samaroo and stabbed him once in the chest before running off. The man had entered by breaking a back window.

The girlfriend who was taken away by the police, returned to the house later in the day in tears, when she learnt Samaroo had died. The couple had been together two months.

Police have since arrested a 20-year-old man of the district who is assisting them with enquiries. Visiting the scene were Sgt Forde, Ag Cpl Emmanuel. Cpl Riley of the Tunapuna Police Station who is continuing enquiries.

The first murder which occured about 7.30 pm, labourer Albert Hosein was asked by partially blind Anthony Ramcharan to take five children and three women from a birthday party at Prunette Street, Mt Zion to their homes at Sangre Grande using his (Ramcharan’s) car.

According to reports, Hosein was dropping off the passengers at Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande, when the car he was driving was blocked by two other cars with five gunmen. The gunmen demanded he come out and enquired about the owner Ramcharan.

Hosein who denied knowing Ramcharan was beaten then bundled into the back seat of the car. He was beaten again and then taken back to the birthday party where the gunmen beat Ramcharan.

They then shot Ramcharan in his left leg and hip. They dragged him to the car and sped off with both men to Blanchisseuse Road, Arima. Police later found Hosein dead with a bullet to the back of his head and the car nearby.

When Newsday visited Hosein’s Sammy Street, Wallerfield home, his wife Cindy Singh was too traumatised to speak.

However, his sisters, mother and brother (a police officer) said they had always warned him about the company he kept and driving that particular car.

Marilyn Ramcharan, mother of Cocotte Ramcharan, said that she believes his abduction is some old grudge. Ramcharan, became blind after he was shot several years ago.

Sources confirmed at press time that they have information suggesting that Ramcharan is still alive.

Visiting the scene were Inspectors Roy and Daniel, Ag Sgt Hamilton, Cpls Rampersad and Parks. Ag Sgt Hamilton is conducting enquiries.

The two latest murders bring the murder figure to 121 in 136 days.