‘I am innocent’

Wayne Blanc, 35, of By-Pass Road, Arima, was one of two men shot several times by security guards who thought that they were involved in the theft of TSTT cables. The other man was released from hospital on Saturday, and charged by the Arima police with larceny of TSTT cables.

He was remanded into custody for tracing.

However, Blanc, a mini mart owner who is still warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex under police guard, said that he was not stealing cables when he was shot. He has over 200 pellets still lodged in his body and was in excruciating pain yesterday.

He was shot in the buttocks, shoulders and head.

Blanc said that at about 1 am on Friday, he and another man were liming when they were told that two men were hiding in bushes after stealing cables.

He said that he and his friend rushed to the scene to apprehend the two men to hand them over to the Arima police, when they were greeted by rapid gunfire. Blanc said that he thought he was going to die.

“The wounds have not healed and I am in pain, and I find it strange that attempts are being made to charge me with something which I am innocent of,” said Blanc yesterday from his hospital bed.

He added that his relatives have contacted a lawyer to defend him in the matter, but he wanted to make it clear that he is not a cable thief and did not deserve to be shot.

TSTT sent out a media release last week about the theft of cables at By-Pass Road, Arima.

Members of the public were advised to contact the police to report any theft of TSTT cables.