‘Skelly’ ducks kidnap charge

The man once dubbed the country’s most wanted man, was yesterday among five men who had a charge of kidnapping against them dismissed by a Port-of-Spain magistrate, after it was disclosed that two of the main witnesses in the kidnapping matter refused to testify. Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, 31, of Pelican Extension, Morvant, and his four cohorts, 29-year-old Sean “Gumbo” Vincent, also of Morvant, Richard “Chinee” Kirton of Arouca, former SRP Reginald Gibson, and former TSTT employee Kenny Bonnette, were all dismissed yesterday after the announcement by State prosecutor, Tricia Hudlin.

The five men were charged with kidnapping 18-year-old Yves Ayoung Chee, of Scott Street in St Clair, and his friend Benedict Bharath on July 17, 2003. They were also charged with imprisoning the men at Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley. According to reports, the teenagers were snatched during the early hours of July 17 at Queen’s Park West. Bharath was released a short while after. An undisclosed ransom demand was made for the safe release of Ayoung Chee, who was released a few days later. After Ayoung Chee’s release, Lovell was on the run from law officers for quite some time. Crime Stoppers had offered a reward of $100,000 for information leading to his arrest. He eventually surrendered to police on August 19, 2003. When all five accused appeared yesterday before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the city’s First Court, the State prosecutor announced that both kidnap victims had no plans of returning to testify in the matter. “As a result, the State is in no position to proceed with the matter as there is insufficient evidence,” said Hudlin.

The magistrate told the accused that charges laid against them were dismissed. Three of the five accused walked out of the court, while two others,  Lovell and Vincent, were remanded as they had other matters pending. Both Lovell and Vincent were committed earlier this year to stand trial for the murder of Curepe businessman Dennis Jodhan Persad. Persad, 30, was kidnapped outside his father’s businessplace, Dumplin’s Mini Mart in Curepe, on December 23, 2002. A ransom of $800,000 was demanded for his safe return, but his body was found in San Juan days after he was kidnapped.

The kidnapping charge against Lovell and Vincent, arising out of Persad’s abduction, started a few weeks ago and ends today. Although discharged of one kidnapping matter, three of the accused in the Ayoung Chee matter will again reappear in court today for the Persad matter.  They are Lovell, Vincent and Kirton. Others charged in the same matter are Brent “Small Brent” Danglade, Rondell Roberts, Jason Joseph and Brian Charles. That matter is also being heard before Magistrate Espinet.