Man beaten to death with piece of wood

A 37-year-old man was bludgeoned to death with a piece of wood after he was accused of stealing $460 and a carton of cigarettes from his landlord, on Thursday evening. A 76-year-old suspect of Newbold Street, Mon Repos, has since been arrested for the killing and was up to late yesterday being interrogated at the Mon Repos Police Station. Newsday learnt that the victim, Dexter Junior Marshall, originally from Victoria Village, San Fernando, had recently moved into the suspect’s home. The suspect had already packed his bags and was expected to leave for Tobago, where he is originally from.

Reports said around 5.30 pm, Marshall, the suspect and a friend, Hugh Granger, were liming in the road drinking babash. The suspect announced that he could not find his money and carton of cigarettes and accused the victim of stealing the items. The men erupted in a heated argument and Marshall ran into the house. The suspect armed himself with a piece of wood and attacked Marshall in the house, beating him repeatedly with the piece of wood. During the beating, neighbours who heard Marshall’s screams intervened and was able to subdued the suspect.

Marshall, who was bleeding about his head, died while awaiting the arrival of the EHS ambulance, which arrived shortly after. District Medical Officer, Dr Frazer, viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy is expected to be performed on Monday. Visiting the scene was a party of officers from the San Fernando Homicide Bureau and Mon Repos Police Station, who seized a bloody piece of wood and interviewed several persons. Sgt Bernard of the Mon Repos Police Station is continuing investigations.