Man accused of stealing methylated spirits beaten, left for dead

A 35-year-old man who was accused of stealing a bottle of methylated spirits, was beaten on the head with a piece of wood and left for dead close to his Losattajos Village, Gran Couva home. He is now listed in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Reports revealed that around 10 pm on Tuesday, Simon Villafana was seen drinking a bottle of methylated spirits in company with a man known to him. An eyewitness claimed that a man accused Villafana of stealing the bottle of methylated spirits and the two engaged in a heated argument. Villafana was later beaten on the head with a piece of wood. He alerted a relative who took him to his home. He was later seen frothing from the mouth and taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where he was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

He underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in his head and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. A 39-year-old Gran Couva man was detained in connection with the incident. Yesterday, a party of officers led by Sgt Leo Duncan, Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and PCs Kalloo and Maraj went to the scene of the incident and carried out inquiries. Statements were recorded and a piece of wood believed to have been used in the beating was seized. Checks with the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday revealed that Villafana is still listed in critical condition.