Sangre Grande watchman murdered

About 8 am yesterday, workers at a sandpit in Turure village, Sangre Grande found the body of the watchman, whom they only knew as "Bones," lying in a pool of blood in a trench close to a river- bank. He had chop wounds to the head, face, neck and hands. He also had two broken legs.

According to reports, Bones, who was originally from Maraval and resided at Valencia Old Road, was dropped off to work at his North France Road, Turure village work site at about 11 pm on Saturday night by his project manager and two other employees. It was his first night-duty at the new quarry which is yet to be named.

The company official returned next morning and found him dead about 300 ft away from an excavator he was guarding. The excavator was valued at $250,000 and was completely burnt.

District Medical Officer Dr Seriaview ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre for an autopsy today. Police believe that the killers attempted to set Bones afire before he was beaten and chopped.

According to reports, it is believed that Bones was asleep in the excavator when it was set alight. He ran out of the vehicle and was then beaten and chopped.

Sources claimed that there was an ongoing feud in the area and Bones got caught in the middle.

Police told Newsday that they believed that the dead man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police have also stated that an arrest is imminent.

Three persons were assisting police yesterday with their investigations.

Police are asking for assistance in positively identifying and providing the name of the murder victim. He is described as man of African descent, six feet tall, of muscular built and with brown eyes. He was wearing a dark blue short pants.

Visiting the scene were ACP Winston Cooper, Insp Fermin Roy, Sgts Curtis Phillip, Kennedy Deosaran, Heerlal Chune, Cpls Beverley Paul, Kenneth Rampersad and PCs Steve Soopdale and Ramharrack Gadar.