US WAR VETERAN MURDER—

Kevon De Merieux, 19, of Carmona Lane, Santa Cruz, was arrested last Friday at the home of his aunt at Charford Court, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.

Yesterday, he appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court for the first time, where the charge was read to him.

It is alleged that De Merieux and other persons murdered Maharaj during the period April 5, 2005, and January 9, 2006.

Maharaj, 62, was kidnapped in Aranjuez on April 6, 2005.

His remains were found in two barrels in the Santa Cruz forest on January 9, 2006.

The police are searching for another person to be charged. On a previous occasion, special prosecutor Israel Khan SC told the court that he could not proceed with the case until the final two suspects were arrested and brought before the court.

As a result, the case was put off several times to accommodate Khan.

He said it made no sense starting the preliminary inquiry. Khan said if the inquiry started and the two other accused were arrested, then he would have to restart the inquiry.

Yesterday, eight of the other nine persons appeared in court. Missing was Kevon Nixon. According to State attorney Jennifer Martin, Nixon is serving a sentence and the court needs to send a writ to have him brought from the prison.

Before the court were Doreen Alexander-Durity, 40, Zion Clarke, 27, Anderson Straker, 32; soldiers Pt Ricardo De Four, Sgt Leon Nurse and Cpt Ricardo Stevenson; and brothers Wayne and Kenneth Pierre.

The case was adjourned to April 7.