Driver shot, throat slit, beaten with shovel

PC Gabriel Merrique, who is on vacation, owns the maxi taxi.

He was transporting five passengers but two of them were bandits who announced a holdup.

While Merrique kept driving the bandits robbed him and the other three passengers of cash, jewellery and cellphones. Merrique was ordered to stop and as the gunmen were getting out, one of them fired a shot at the constable.

Merrique had hidden a personal, licensed firearm which he pulled out and fired at the gunmen shooting them and killing one.

Merrique alerted maxi drivers passing by, and the police was contacted.

Senior Superintendent Michael Daniel and Superintendent Glen Dillon were among the officers who responded and the area was cordoned off. The injured bandit was taken to hospital and is warded under police guard.

His accomplice’s body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

He remains unidentified. Police recovered the stolen items.

PC Merrique and the passengers were taken to Arouca police station where they gave statements.