Diego man Tobago’s fifth murder victim

Police reports say that 57-yearold Richard Daniel was murdered sometime around 1am.

His body was found in a bedroom in a house at Hope Trace by the owner of the residence, his friend Augustus Solomon. Daniel, who was from Diego Martin, Trinidad, stayed at the home when he was in Tobago conducting his business as a wholesale fruit vendor.

Solomon said he awoke to use the bathroom when he noticed the door to the guest room, which Daniel occupied, ajar.

He said he turned on the bedroom light and called out to Daniel who was lying on the bed. Upon closer observation, he said he noticed blood on the bed. He then alerted the neighbours before calling the Scarborough police.

After examining Daniel’s body, District Medical Officer Dr Diandra Clinkar ordered it removed to the Scarborough Mortuary.

Investigators said Daniel was likely followed home by his attackers and were working on the theory that he was a victim of robbery. Investigations are ongoing by officers of the Tobago Homicide Bureau.

Daniel’s daughter, Kizzy, who resides in Tobago, distraught over her father’s death, said she was awaiting the results of the autopsy. She was told by police that they were uncertain as to what kind of weapon was used, as the wound to the head could be either from a gunshot or a stab wound.

One neighbour said Daniel would usually travel to Tobago weekly and supply fruits to small vendors around the island. The neighbour said she heard nothing untoward during the night and that it was only when she saw the police at the house, she realised something had happened. With Daniel’s murder makes it the fifth homicide on the island for the year, the other four murders remain unsolved.

On February 11, Abiela Adams, 15, a national footballer and third form student at the Signal Hill Secondary School, was found with her throat slit on the roadway near a garbage dump at Solemn Lane, Fidelis Heights (North), Courland.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov at the Scarborough Mortuary showed the cause of death as a smashed windpipe and a wound to the neck caused by a broken bottle.

On February 5, Junior ‘Copper’ Roberts, 34, of Buccoo New Road, Buccoo was shot to death whilst driving his car east along Auchenskeoch Road, Buccoo, around 9.35 pm. Reports were that several gunshots were heard and Roberts’ vehicle spun out of control and ran off the roadway into the bush.

On January 19, father of one, Dale Boucher, of Bethesda, Plymouth, was shot to death. Residents reported they heard loud explosions and on checking, found Boucher, also known as ‘Dale Crooks’ and ‘Redman,’ dead on the road. An autopsy showed that Boucher was shot in the head.

On January 5, Kurt ‘Tibbs’ Clarke, 46, of Lambeau, was shot dead along Prospect Road, Orange Hill.

Police reported that at around 8.30 pm, Clarke was driving his Nissan Almera when a car pulled up beside him and its occupants shot at him.

Clarke died on the spot.