‘Hit-and-run’ victim may have been murdered

Speaking with relatives at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday, reporters were told Smart, who had no children and had no specific place of employment, was last seen leaving her home for a party in San Juan which she left with a male companion at about 3 am on Monday. About an hour later, her body was found on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain near the Radisson Hotel.

An autopsy done on her body has revealed that the woman may have been killed and thrown from a moving vehicle. According to the report, Smart died from blunt force trauma to the head which had also severed her spinal chord. Newsday was also told that she also sustained a broken leg, supposedly from being thrown from the car.

Relatives described Smart as a helpful, loving young woman who frequently went out to parties on her own.

“She was not a wayward woman, and she did not deserve to die like this,” said one relative.

“She would normally go out to parties on her own and meet her friends at the party. She was a fun-loving person, so she would usually be the life of the party. We are hoping that the police leave no stone unturned in this investigation.” Newsday understands CCTV footage is being retrieved from cameras, positioned along Wrightson Road, which may have captured Smart’s final moments.

Relatives yesterday said they were taking comfort in the fact that there is a high level of surveillance in the area which should make it easier for detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding Smart’s death.