SHANNON’S BODY FOUND

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service issued a press release last night identifying two men - Matthew Maharaj and Dale Seecharan - as being ‘persons of interest’ in the investigations into the murder of 20-year-old Banfield. Last night, police sources said that two men, one from El Socorro and the other from San Juan surrendered to police.

The search continued late last night for a third suspect. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Irving Hackshaw told Newsday that a manhunt was launched for all persons involved in the murder and he assured, “no stone would be left unturned” in the pursuit of suspects.

Police sources revealed that the two men who are among 14 persons employed at the warehouse and store, failed to show up for work on Tuesday and also failed to contact owner of the company Ishmael Ali as to the reason for their no-show. Officers spent several hours interviewing staff members of the store hours after a foul odour led to the discovery of Banfield’s bloated corpse on the third floor.

Rumours that she was stuffed in a freezer, were dismissed by investigators.

Banfield was last seen alive shopping at Pennywise and IAM and Co Ltd on Monday afternoon after leaving work at Republic Bank’s Independence Square, Port-of- Spain branch. According to police, at about 1 pm yesterday, a security guard employed with IAM & Co went in search of the source of a foul stench which was believed to be caused by a dead rat. He later discovered Banfield’s swollen body on a shelf, beneath a pile of boxes and bags littered around her. She was clad in her bank uniform. Near the body were her lunch bag and Pennywise bags containing items she purchased on Monday.

Relatives including Banfield’s step-father who is a police officer went to the scene and positively identified her body. At about seven o’clock last night, Banfield’s body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy will be done today. While police were at the scene, Charlotte Street had to be cordoned off to keep back onlookers, most of whom appeared stunned as news of the discovery of Banfield’s body being found reached them.

In the southland, dozens of equally shocked persons could be seen standing on the pavement on High Street in San Fernando listening to news alerts on television sets and radios inside several businesses which reported on the discovery of the body. Businessmen along Charlotte Street said they noticed a foul stench permeating the area since Tuesday but they thought nothing of it believing it to be some dead animal stuck in drains beneath the pavement.

Reacting to news of the discovery yesterday, a close relative of Banfield told Newsday that CCTV footage showed Banfield entering the IAM & Co branch on Frederick St and made her way north towards Pennywise on Monday evening. “The footage shows she went to Iam first and then to Pennywise. I was on the phone with Shannon at 4.50 pm on Monday and I asked her if she got everything and she answered, ‘yes’.” Banfield told her relative that she was now heading towards the San Juan taxi stand en route to their home in Santa Cruz. The relative described Shannon as a loving person and that the entire family was left stunned on the news that she was found dead as they had been praying day and night for Banfield’s safe return to her McCarthy Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz home.

(Additional reporting by Marlene Augustine)