PH driver murdered at St Barb’s

POLICE are calling on the Minister of Health to do something about the response time of some District Medical Officers (DMOs,) who are robbing the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service of valuable working hours. The concern was expressed after the fatal shooting of Tunapuna driver Roger Haynes alias “Smurf” at St Barb’s around 10 pm on Thursday night. The DMO arrived at the scene almost seven hours later. “This is ridiculous,” angry cops said, “a murder took place at 10 o’clock at night and the DMO arrives 4.55 next morning. “For too long this has been going on and it is the Police Service that suffers because the time and manpower lost just guarding a  body could be utilised somewhere else. A more efficient system has to be put in place.” According to reports, Haynes, 30, was proceeding north on Sandy Lane in St Barb’s with another passenger when 15 men jumped in front of the car and demanded he turn over the marijuana he was supposedly transporting.

He denied having any and a volley of shots hit the car. Haynes, of Lashley Street in Tunapuna, slumped over the steering wheel dead. His friend escaped, but returned to the Besson Street Police Station yesterday morning. He is now assisting police with their investigations. Police said they had no motive and had no idea what was taken from the car. St Barb’s sources, however told Newsday that Haynes was in the habit of transporting drugs. On Thursday night he was allegedly carrying two bags of “weed.” Several pieces of jewelry were removed from his body. District Medical Officer Dr Olowe visited the scene and ordered the body removed to the Forensic Sciences Centre. Autopsy results confirmed Haynes died from haemorrhaging consistent with three bullet wounds to the head. Haynes’ death has pushed the year’s murder toll to 149. Cpl Bonnie is continuing investigations.