‘PH’ driver killed in Laventille

STANLEY DICKSON, alias Bones, a  ‘PH’ driver who is a member of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, was gunned down while walking along Laventille Road on Friday night. His murder is the 175th for the year so far and three more than the 172 figure for the entire period last year. Reports revealed that around 10.30 pm, Dickson, 36, of Mentor Alley, Laventille was walking along Laventille Road in company with another man when they were confronted by two men armed with guns. The gunmen ordered the man who was in company with Dickson to run. They then shot Dickson several times and fled the scene. Dickson was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A party of officers led by Ag Sgt Stephen Grant of the Besson Street CID went to the scene and carried out inquiries. Relatives told Sunday Newsday Dickson was recently threatened by a group of men belonging to a notorious gang in Laventille.

Corintha Dickson , the mother of the dead man said her son was not involved in any illicit activities. She claimed that he earned an honest living and took care of his common-law wife Kia and their two children. Police investigators told Sunday Newsday that Dickson is believed to be part of a group of men responsible for a few murders in Laventille. Recently, a 27-year old relative of Dickson went into hiding after gunmen fired shots at a house where he was liming. Two persons were killed in that incident and he escaped unhurt. Investigators said yesterday that most of the killings are revenge related. Records from the police homicide unit revealed that most of the murders last year and this year took place in Laventille and almost all were gang related. Senior officers told Sunday Newsday that despite the increased patrols from the Inter Agency Task Force the killings continue to take place in Laventille. They admitted that the anti-crime plan to deal with murders and crime in Laventille now appear to be useless. The autopsy on Dickson will take place tomorow at the Forensic Science Centre.