Handyman shot dead at home

An 18-year-old Laventille man became the country’s 22nd murder victim for the year after he was shot dead, while sitting in the yard of his home at Desperlie Crescent around 10.45 pm on Saturday. Samuel Mannette alias “Kermit” was shot once in the left side of the back. His father Herbert Manette said that he last saw his son alive shortly before. The father of two explained that he saw his son liming in the yard and later heard a loud explosion.

On checking, he saw his son’s body slumped in the yard with blood oozing from his back. He alerted E-999 officers who contacted the Besson Street Police. A party of officers led by Inspector Gay and including Sgt Mercer and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad along with District Medical Officer Dr Richard Clerk went to the scene. The body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. When Newsday visited the scene of the shooting, residents insisted that the shooting death was a case of mistaken identity. Residents told Newsday that Mannette was a handyman in the area and was not involved with any gangs. They added that he was not involved in any criminal activities and they expressed outrage over his death. Angry residents claimed that despite the presence of members of the Inter Agency Task Force at the St Barbs Post, the killings continue in Laventille.