Toco schoolboy held for murder

A heated argument over the payment of money owed on a bicycle wheel ended in one man losing his life on Good Friday night at Toco.

Derius James, 21, alias “Mice”  of Humbug Trace, Toco died at the Sangre Grande Hospital after allegedly receiving stab wounds to his chest and wrist on Good Friday night at Palm Street, Toco from a 16-year-old student of Toco Composite School. Police reported that at around 9.50 pm on Good Friday, the teenager and Derius James had an altercation over money owed on the bicyle wheel which James had sold to the student.

The student allegedly pulled out a knife and started stabbing James. Police said  that the teen came to the Toco Police station about an hour before the incident occurred and reported how he was “planassed” with a cutlass several times by James. James was rushed by villagers to the Toco Health Centre but there was no ambulance driver to take him to the Sangre Grande Hospital. Meanwhile, a report was made to the Toco Police Station and a party of police officers headed by Sgt Richard Wright, Cpl Anthony Wight and PCs Lewis Yorke and Dindial Joseph visited the health institution and took James to the Sangre Grande Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Derius’ mother Dorean told Sunday Newsday that her son returned home around 4.30 pm from work as a handyman. He ate and looked at television, at a show about AIDS, but said he was bored so he left home. The next news she heard was that he had been killed. Sgt Wright of the Toco police is continuing inquiries.