Man beaten on head dies at hospital

A 35-year-old Gran Couva man, who was beaten on the head after being accused of stealing a bottle of methylated spirits, died around 3 pm at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

A 39-year-old man, who was detained, is expected to be charged with the murder of Simon Villafana. Today, police investigators will consult with DPP Geoffrey Henderson on the matter. Reports revealed that around 10 pm last Tuesday, Villafana and another man were drinking methylated spirits at Losattajos Village, Gran Couva, when Villafana was accused of stealing a bottle of the methylated spirits. He was beaten on the head with a piece of wood. A relative of Villafana later found him frothing and took him to the Chaguanas Health Centre after which he was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Emergency surgery was carried out to remove a blood clot. He was warded at the Intensive Care Unit and a suspect was detained. A party of officers, led by Sgt Leo Duncan and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad, along with PCs Kalloo and Maharaj, went to the  scene of the incident and seized a weapon. The suspect in the beating death was still in custody at the Couva Police Station up to late yesterday.