Murders in Belmont, Laventille and Arima

In one incident, a 28-year-old man was shot dead as he slept in his Belmont home yesterday morning.

On Thursday night, a Laventille man was gunned down as he was liming in the area. Also on Thursday, a Pinto Road, Arima man was gunned down, with police recovering 37 shells around the body.

According to police reports, at about 8.15 pm on Thursday Cordelle John of Mariquet Street in East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, was sitting on a railing at Schuller Street in Laventille when he was confronted by a man who shot him several times before running off.

The body was viewed by a district medical officer and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for an autopsy.

Yesterday, relatives of the dead man said he was released on January 15, 2004, for the murder of driving instructor Llewelyn Bovell which was committed in 1999.

John and four others were charged with that killing. Police believe his execution was linked to the murder charge which he got off on.

In the Arima incident, police reported that at about 8.30 pm on Thursday, residents of Pinto Road heard several loud explosions.

When the gunshots stopped, the residents ventured out of their homes and spotted the body of 19-year-old Martin Myers lying on the road.

The police were called in and officers who arrived on the scene, recovered 37 spent bullet casings around Myers’ body.

Officers said they believe the killing may have been revenge for a killing in the area which took place several days ago.

The third murder took place at about 12.30 am yesterday when Reynaldo Guy, 28, and a female relative were asleep at their Waterman Road, Belmont home when they were awakened by loud gunshots.

The relative told police that she ran out of the house and sought refuge at the home of a neighbour.

She later made a check and saw the lifeless body of her husband on the bed.

She contacted relatives who contacted the Belmont Police.

Relatives told Newsday yesterday that Guy was a handyman who lived a humble life and was not involved in any gang-related activities.

Up until yesterday, 137 people were murdered for the year.