I was thrown in the trunk

Earl Crosby, owner of Crosby’s Music Centre, yesterday told a jury how his car was hijacked and how he was tossed into the trunk. He said he escaped when he opened the trunk and jumped out of the vehicle when it slowed down.

Two policemen, PCS Mitra Garnesh Bridgelal and Jamraj Lall, also told Justice Malcolm Holdip and a jury of nine, in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court, how they arrested accused Keshore Mungroo and Stephen Ribeiro in Crosby’s car in Chaguanas, three days after it was stolen. Mungroo, 21, of St Francois Valley Road, Belmont and Ribeiro, 25, of San Juan, are charged with receiving a stolen vehicle. Mungroo is being defended by Ulric Skerrett and Dawn Mohan while Ribeiro’s attorney is Shastri Roberts. Prosecutors are Sattie Maharaj Lalla and Nadia James.

Crosby told the court that on November 22, 1999, he went to the corner of Carlos Street and  Tragarete Road to make a purchase when a woman asked him for a ride into Port-of-Spain. He obliged, and for unknown reasons continued to San Juan, where he stopped at the Croisse near to Courts. He unlocked the car door and a man suddenly pulled open the door,  placed an object to the right side of his head and told him not to look back. He was then ordered to the back of the car. The man holding him then told an accomplice to open the trunk and Crosby was told to get in. When he hesitated, he was hit in the back of the head and pushed into the trunk.

The hijackers then drove off, but Crosby was able to open the trunk and escape when the vehicle slowed down. He sought the help of a bystander and then travelled to the San Juan Police Station, where he reported the incident. On November 25, PCs Bridgelal and Lall were on duty when they observed a car going in the wrong direction on John Street, Chaguanas. The lawmen stopped the car and on checking found the two accused and a woman in the vehicle. They had no driving permit, insurance nor any other identification. They were taken to the Chaguanas Police Station and a further check revealed that the vehicle was stolen. Hearing continues today.