Wanted TRINI gives up

TRINIDADIAN Cyprian Diaz has refused to give a statement to police officers of the Philadelphia Police Department, an official source at the police department told Sunday Newsday yesterday.

Diaz, 57, had been on the run for five days after allegedly shooting to death, his 40-year-old former common-law-wife, Pramatee Celestine, and her Jamaican-born husband Eugene Celestine last Tuesday in Philadelphia. Hours after his twin brother, Felix Diaz, made a plea on Saturday through the local media to surrender to authorities, Cyprian gave himself up to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in Philadelphia, USA. Contacted yesterday, an official of the Homicide Bureau of the Philadelphia Police Department told Sunday Newsday that Cyprian surrendered around 7.30pm Friday. The detective, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the murder suspect did not surrender with an attorney.  He said Cyprian was questioned at length, but that the Trinidadian national refused to give a statement. “That’s his right... not to talk to us.  He said nothing.  He did not confess,” the officer said via telephone.  He added that he had no idea where Cyprian had been hiding out during his time on the run.

The officer said warrants charging Cyprian with “double homicide by gun” were then executed on the murder suspect by Detective Lawrence McGuffin. The Trinidadian national was then taken to the Philadelphia County Jail, where he will be held without bail until the preliminary hearing comes up next Wednesday at the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Centre. Cyprian and Pramatee’s two children, Michael, 14, and Randy, 10, are said to be in protective custody under the care of a woman identified as Eugenia Elton. Reached yesterday, an elated Felix Diaz expressed relief that his twin brother had turned himself in.  “It’s one of the best things that could have happened,” he said. Felix, father of 11, of Carmichael Village, Coryal, Tamana, added that he had not slept since the incident.  He said he often wondered if his twin would have been shot or if he would have committed suicide. Felix, a the lead pastor at the Apostolic Christian Church, Carmichael Village, reiterated that he was not condoning what his brother had done. But he maintained his brother was triggered.  “He was pushed over the edge.  He would never have done that until normal circumstances,” he said.

Felix and another brother, Desmond, 63, have charged that Pramatee and her husband either wanted or intended to put Cyprian out of the Philadelphia home where he reportedly lived with Pramatee and her husband, or that the married couple were forcing Cyprian out the restaurant he reportedly started with his benefits derived from working over 30 years as a watchman at the Tunapuna County Council. Felix said he and Desmond are trying to leave Trinidad tomorrow in time for Wednesday’s hearing.  He said they will also try to get an attorney for him and that their prayers will always be with Cyprian. Felix also said he intends to get custody of his two nephews.  He said a custody hearing is set for next Thursday in Philadelphia.