Man held for killing American mas’ player

NEARLY three years after an American oil engineer was stabbed to death while playing Monday Night Mas’ in 2002, a 38-year-old suspect with several names and addresses has been arrested for the murder. The breakthrough came on Monday morning when the suspect was spotted by a Homicide Bureau officer in the cells of the Port-of-Spain CID about to be taken to the city magistrate court to answer a charge of possession of cocaine. The suspect was arrested in the Besson Street district on Sunday and detained overnight. He never made it to court to answer the cocaine charge. Instead, he was pulled in by Homicide Bureau officers for questioning.

The suspect, who gave one of  his addresses as La Puerta Road, Diego Martin, was placed on an identification parade yesterday. The victim, Mark Staley, 38, of Mountain View, Wyoming, United States, was employed at Damus Company in La Romain. He was staying at a guest house at Clifton Hill, Point Fortin. On February 12, 2002, Staley was a member of Desert Rats playing Monday night mas’ in St James. The victim was in the band with friends when he was confronted by a man armed with a knife. There was a struggle during which the American was stabbed about his body. The assailant ran off with Staley’s gold chain. The suspect ran straight into the arms of two policemen, who were on patrol in the Bournes Road area. Staley collapsed a short distance away and died. Police detained the suspect and seized a blood-stained knife. Police believe there were other persons operating with the suspect, but no one else was held.

ID parades were conducted, but the suspect was not identified at that time. He was subsequently released. Staley’s body was sent back to the United States for burial. Based on information received, police produced a sketch of  the suspect. In a rare and historic move, the police sent the blood-stained knife for DNA testing in the United States. The results were sent back to the TT police identifying the blood type which matched a certain individual. However, the trail went cold and nothing more was heard about the case until the suspect was spotted leaving the cells of the Port-of-Spain CID on Monday to appear in court for possession of cocaine. Investigations were headed by Senior Supt Dyo Mohammed, ASP Narcis Cadette and Insp Nadir Khan. Investigators will consult with Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson this morning. It is expected that the suspect will be charged later today and will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate by the end of the day.