Cane cutter chopped to death

A 34-YEAR-OLD cane cutter who attacked his sister and brother-in-law with a cutlass on Monday night was found dead in a cassava patch a short distance away from his Chickland Village, Freeport, home on Wednesday night.

Police have since detained a 45-year-old cane cutter for questioning in connection with the chopping death of Christopher Williams. Bernadette Williams, an eyewitness to the incident told Newsday that around 8.30 pm on Monday  she was at home with her husband Ramcharan Bridgelal when Williams, who was armed with a cutlass, began firing chops at them. The mother of five claimed that Williams followed her inside her home and made threats. She said a short while later Williams turned towards a relative and began firing chops at him. The relative suffered chops about his body and lost three fingers in the attack.

During a struggle with Williams, the relative managed to gain control of the cutlass and chopped him about the body. The man fled the scene by running into some nearby bushes. The injured relative was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre and transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He was treated and discharged on Wednesday. The man went to the Freeport Police Station and made a report about the chopping incident. He returned to the scene of the incident around 6 pm on Wednesday and a search was carried out for Williams. His body was discovered in a cassava patch a short distance away. The body was viewed by  District Medical Officer Dr Khatri who ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre.

Snr Supt Philip Carmona, Supt Nimrod, ASP Anthony Bernard, Sgt Housend, PCs James, Pierre, Badal and others visited the scene. When Newsday visited the scene yesterday, Virginia Heraldo, the 87-year-old grandmother of the deceased, was seen clutching her chest and crying out in grief. She was only told the news of the death minutes earlier. The grieving woman told Newsday although Williams was a violent person she  loved him dearly. She added that she still cannot believe that he is dead. Bernadette Williams told Newsday the deceased had attacked her in the past and always appeared to be in an enraged mood. Officers of the Freeport Police Station are investigating.

An autopsy will be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre.