‘We were protecting girl from victim’

THREE suspects held for the murder of 22-year-old Samraj Ramkumar claimed they were protecting a 17-year-old girl from being beaten by Ramkumar. The suspects, ages 18, 17 and a 15-year-old St Madeleine Secondary School pupil, all of Garth Road, Princes Town have since given police statements and were up to late yesterday still detained at the Couva CID. Police are also working on the theory that Ramkumar was killed because he did not want to be part of a robbery.

Police sources told Newsday the three young men had hired Ramkumar, who plied the Princes Town/Garth Road route, to take them to the home of  a 17-year-old friend at Calcutta No 1, Couva, on Friday. But before they went there, they went to a pub in Chaguanas. Following this, they went to the girl’s home at Calcutta no 1, Couva. While there, the girl accused Ramkumar, who was a good friend of her  boyfriend, of breaking up their relationship. The suspects told police the girl started hitting Ramkumar and he in return started beating her. The three men armed themselves with two knives and a chinese chopper and attacked Ramkumar, stabbing and chopping him.  His throat was also slit. They then dragged his body to the back of the girl’s house in some bushes. However, before they could escape police arrived on the scene, after  neighbours heard Ramkumar screams and called them. Police found a  bloodied chinese chopper next to the body and two bloodied knives in  Ramkumar’s car.

The trio, whose clothes were blood stained, were arrested and taken to the station, along with the 17-year-old girl. The 17-year-old girl gave police another version of the events which transpired on the fateful night. She has since been released. Following an autopsy today at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James, the file will be sent to Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson, who will decide whether the trio would be charged with Ramkumar’s murder. Head of the Central Division, Snr Supt Mayers and Supt Millet are spearheading investigations.