St James teen stabbed to death

A ST JAMES teenager became the nation’s latest murder victim on Wednesday night when he was ambushed by five men who battered and then stabbed him to death on Bournes Road.

While grieving relatives are still in the dark as to the reasons why 18-year-old Ashley Mathlin was murdered, police suspect his killing stemmed from a recent heated argument with a group of young men.

Mathlin, the 54th person murdered for the year so far, became the 13th murder victim within the past week.

According to police reports, at around 10.35 pm, Mathlin. a labourer of 44 Upper Bournes Road, was walking south along Bournes Road. As he walked past the Prosperity Bar, a green-striped vehicle pulled alongside him, from which five men quickly alighted.

The five started beating Mathlin mercilessly about his body. As he screamed and fell on the pavement, one of them stabbed him on the left side of his chest. He managed to get up and ran a short distance before collapsing.

The men reportedly continued kicking Mathlin while he lay helplessly and unmoving on the pavement. They later sped off in their vehicle while residents. who heard Mathlin’s screams, telephoned the police. When officers arrived on the scene, Mathlin was already dead. Visiting the scene were Supt Nadir Mohammed, Insp Narcis Cadette, Sgt Nandram Monilal, Sgt White and Woman Cpl Jackie. DMO Dr Michael Low Chew Tung arrived a short while later, viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary.

Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made.

An autopsy carried yesterday at the Forensic Sciences Centre revealed the youth died of massive shock and internal haemorrhaging consistent with the single stab to the left side of the chest.

The victim’s sister, Crystal Mathlin, told Newsday neither she nor her other relatives knew why Mathlin was beaten and stabbed.

"He was a cool person and we are all in a state of shock over this incident," Crystal said.

Sgt Nandram Monilal of the St James CID is leading investigations.