Family of drowned man await police

“This is now entirely in the hands of the police. I cannot say much more, because the case is still ongoing,” George told Newsday. On November 20, Smith was allegedly in an altercation with officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force who were repairing roofs in the area, after a low-flying helicopter damaged them a week before.

Reports indicated that Smith had become intoxicated and got into an altercation with a neighbour over an illegal electrical connection. When officers of the TTDF intervened the man became more aggressive.

It is alleged the officers then beat Smith. Smith went into the water for a swim a short time after, but never returned. His body was found off Alice Point two days later.

An initial autopsy done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James determined that Smith had drowned.

A second autopsy was ordered by Smith’s family and performed by Dr Hughvon Des Vignes which determined that Smith drowned but he had suffered blunt force trauma prior to death. While attempts to reach Captain Stephan Affonso yesterday proved futile, he was reported earlier to have said that the TTDF was doing everything it can to make the officers involved in the incident available to the police. The TTDF is also conducting an independent investigation into the matter. Newsday understands that soldiers have been interviewed by military investigators but it is not known if they were interviewed by police.