Soldier murdered in Tobago

A SOLdiER with the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment was stabbed to death during a brawl involving two of his colleagues and an off-duty police officer at a bar in downtown Scarborough, Tobago, on Friday night. Private Andrew Haynes, 24, of 2 Anthurium Avenue, Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, was reportedly living at Government House Road, Scarbor-ough and was based at Camp Signal Hill. He died while undergoing surgery at the Scarborough Hospital at about 1 am yesterday, several hours after the stabbing which took place opposite the Scarborough Port on Milford Road, Scarborough.

The victim’s father, Sgt Andrew Haynes, is a member of the Regiment. Two other soldiers were reportedly injured, one of them seriously, in the fracas which occurred around 9.30 pm. Private Daniel Pollard, who is also based at Camp Signal Hill, was airlifted to Trinidad in critical condition, while Private Browne was warded at the Scarborough Hospital. Browne was said to be in stable condition yesterday. According to a police report, the altercation began at the Church’s Chicken outlet at the junction of Bay Street and Carrington Street and ended outside Caribbean Cuisine Bar, about 200 metres away. The soldiers were allegedly involved in a dispute with a close relative of a special reserve police officer. It is alleged that the  SRP intervened and was “slightly injured.”

Sources told Sunday Newsday the off-duty soldiers were out on their customary Friday night lime at the time of the incident. Police said no motive has yet been established for the incident and there are no immediate suspects. Sgt Garfield Moore, of the Scarborough CID, is continuing investigations. In an official statement on the incident, Captain A Alexander, public relations officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, said the army and the Scarborough CID had convened separate inquiries into the incident. He extended condolences to the bereaved family. Private Haynes enlisted in the army on September 29, 1999, and was posted to the First Infantry Battalion based at Camp Ogden (Charlie Company). Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.

Bandit shot dead; woman killed in crash

WHILE dealing with an accident between a maxi taxi and a car at the intersection of Bellesmythe Street, Curepe and the Priority Bus Route on Friday night which left one dead and five injured, police officers had to hasten to a scene 50 yards away where a maxi taxi bandit was shot dead by an off-duty policeman. Around 11.15 pm a maxi taxi proceeding east along the PBR collided with a car travelling north on Bellesmythe Street. The maxi catapulted several times. An unidentified woman still clutching four dollars to pay the maxi taxi driver was killed instantly, while five other passengers were slightly injured. Police investigating the accident  were alerted to the sound of gunfire coming from nearby.

They rushed to the corner of Scott and Sellier Streets, behind RBTT St Augustine office where they found a man with bullet wounds to his hand and neck and a toy gun wrapped in a “bandana” nearby. Police said the bandit boarded the maxi taxi at Red Hill, D’Abadie and on reaching the intersection announced a hold-up, placed the “gun” to the driver’s neck and relieved him of his cash. As the bandit exited the vehicle he was confronted by the off-duty police officer who was a passenger of the maxi. A struggle ensued and the bandit was shot dead. Up to press time the dead man was unidentified.