Bandit shot dead by businessman

AUTO businessman Allison Hamilton, 52, shot and killed a man who came to rob him on Wednesday night but was upset that the man was dead.

“I am not taking it too good,” he said. “Nothing can justify taking a life. I am very distressed,” he said at his auto garage place, located at Production Avenue, Sea Lots. But while Hamilton is distressed, police sources say he had little choice as his life was threatened by the bandit, who was later identified as Sterling King, 32, of Beetham Estate. Preliminary reports are that around 10.35 pm, Hamilton and his common-law-wife Kathleen Registe were asleep at their business place. They heard a noise where the businessman stored his motor vehicle parts. Investigators said Hamilton went in the direction of the noise and police said King ran past the businessman and subsequently dropped something. Police said King then turned towards Hamilton with a cutlass and stepped towards him. Fearing for his life, police said Hamilton then drew his licensed firearm and fired two shots. King collapsed and died on the spot.

A report was made and a party of officers from the Port-of-Spain Division headed by Insp Manswell and including acting Insps Manechand Ramnarine and Persad, Sgt Randolph Boyce, Cpl Bridgeman and others visited the scene and conducted investigations.  The officers found and seized a cutlass. District Medical Officer Dr Kenneth Chai Hong viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Port-of-Spain mortuary.  A post mortem could not be performed since the dead man had not been identified. At his business place yesterday, Hamilton said it was the fifth time his place had been broken into for the week. He also said he had changed five locks, as a consequence. The businessman said when he heard the noise, he opened his back door and ran after King to a gate, where the lock had been broken. Hamilton took Newsday to the back of his building place and showed a large hole which had been made in his fence. The hole, he said, is where King passed from the adjacent compound of the Trinidad and Tobago Electric Company (TTEc) Storage House.  Behind the broken fence was a red jersey and an orange-coloured lighter.

The businessman said while he ran behind King, he shouted to him to stop because he wanted to get a good look at him so that he could identify him to the police, as he had done on previous occasions without touching his licensed firearm. This time was different since the man threatened his life. “I am really not happy about this,” he said. He also said that around 5 am Monday, a store room outside his building was burnt down.  However, he said, he does not think it was deliberate since the area had no electricity. He said whoever went into the place probably lit something that eventually led to a fire. Sgt Boyce of the Besson Street Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is continuing investigations.