Sailor charged with wife’s murder

A COAST GUARD officer charged with the murder of his wife appeared yesterday before Couva Magistrate Mark Wellington.

Winston Derick Backhorie, 34, was charged with fatally stabbing Rhonda Zamora Backhorie at their home at Sanford Street West, California, on Saturday night. He was also charged with  maliciously wounding his brother-in-law Krishen Ragoonanan. Both charges were laid indictably and he was not called upon to plead. Backhorie was arrested and charged by Sgt Peter Burke after he surrendered to the Couva CID.

Dressed in a cream shirt and brown pants, Backhorie remained silent as the charges were read. He was unrepresented in court. Family members of the accused and deceased were present. Backhorie’s mother, Joan, told Newsday the family could not afford an attorney and intend to apply for legal aid. Members of the Coast Guard sat in the courtroom lending support to their colleague and offering words of comfort to Backhorie’s family. Backhorie was remanded in custody to reappear in court next Friday. Police said Backhorie holds the rank of able-bodied seaman and is based at the Coast Guard station in Scarborough, Tobago. He returned to Trinidad last week after completing his tour of duty. Backhorie and his wife have four children who are currently staying with an aunt in Mc Bean, Couva.