Malabar man in court for murder

After instructions from Director of Public Prosecution Geoffrey Henderson, a Malabar craftsman/fisherman yesterday appeared before Arima magistrate Debra Quintin charged with the murder of Shervan Cummings. Gerod Thorington, 34, who was held last Friday, was charged on Monday night for the murder. Cummings, 36, a former associate of murdered Mark Guerra, was shot dead while sorting clothes at a Malabar laundromat last Thursday evening. He was killed by eight bullets.

Cummings, who fled to England two days after Guerra was gunned down outside his Wallerfield estate, returned after threats were made on his life. He was planning to return to England when he was arrested earlier this year for the murder of taxi-driver Andre Sutton. Cummings was about to board a plane at the Piarco International Airport when he was held. One week before he was killed, Cummings was freed at the Arima Magistrates’ Court for the murder of Sutton, who was killed on Christmas Day last year. Since his return to TT, Cummings was suspected to be involved in several underworld hits, robberies and shootings which police believe could be one of the reasons for his murder.

Shortly after his death, senior police officers warned members of the Muslim faith and non-Muslims to desist from any religious war in Arima, as they believe the contract hit was based on religion. Police also believe the war is responsible for the murder of Guerra, Neil James and other Muslims and non-Muslims in Carenage, La Horquetta, Maloney, Laventille and Morvant. Cummings was a member of the Jamaat al Muslimeen. Thorington, a father of two, of Phrase 1 in Malabar, has several matters for armed robbery and possession of firearms in several courts throughout TT. He will reappear before an Arima magistrate on June 30.