Teen held for TSTT worker’s murder

An 18-year-old schoolboy has been detained by the police in connection with the shooting death of TSTT employee Darren Baksh. The schoolboy, who has a criminal record, was arrested at a house at Tra-garete Road in Port-of-Spain Monday evening, in an exercise coordinated by Snr Supt Hiyadath “Dyo” Mohammed. His arrest came after he was captured by surveillance cameras trying to use Baksh’s Linx card at a Republic Bank ATM machine on Tragarete Road on Sunday, shortly after Baksh was murdered. The suspect unsuccessfully tried several pin numbers before the card was captured by the machine.

Bank officials contacted the police on Monday, and they were allowed to view a tape with the suspect using the ATM machine. Police officers recognised the suspect from his criminal record and they went to his home and arrested him. The police later learnt that the murder weapon used to kill Baksh was thrown in the sea in Carenage. Coast Guard officers were contacted and they are now assisting the police in trying to recover the gun. Today, Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson will be consulted on whether a charge of murder can be laid against the schoolboy.

Baksh was shot dead Sunday during a failed robbery attempt at Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain. Reports revealed he was shot in his stomach when he refused to hand over his wallet to a gunman who had broken into his car. Baksh and a group of friends had just left the 51 Degrees club at Cipriani Boulevard around 4.30 am on Sunday, but had to shelter from the rain for a short while. He then opened the car door and was confronted by a gunman who demanded his wallet. A struggle ensued and Baksh was shot. Baksh recently graduated from UWI with a degree in engineering.