Cop freed of kidnapping charge

PC Ricky Sammy and his accomplice, former State witness Burt O’Neil were charged with kidnapping Sheldon Lyons on April 14, last year.

The matter, which began last April before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Court, was set for hearing several times. On each occasion, Sammy and O’Neil, who were out on bail, were present with their attorneys, Om Lalla and Osbourne Charles. However on each of the three dates set for hearing, the victim was absent.

When the matter was called yesterday, State attorney Shereen Murray told Magistrate Espinet there had been some difficulty in locating the witness.

"We have word that he has travelled overseas. As for information pertaining to him and his whereabouts exactly, we have none. As a result, the State will not be able to pursue the case," she said.

The magistrate then told the two accused men that the charges against them were to be discontinued.

It was alleged that Lyons, 28, of Waterhole, Cocorite, was at Jeffers Lane, Cocorite, when two men came out of a vehicle and began beating him. Lyons was reportedly robbed of $600 and was taken to the Barataria area, where he was thrown out of the vehicle.

The victim was taken to the Barataria Police Station, then to St James where the alleged crime was committed. Lyons spotted the car in which he had been abducted and alerted police officers. The car was intercepted near Smokey and Bunty Bar and the two occupants were pointed out by Lyons as the men who had earlier abducted, robbed and beat him.