Death of US war veteran

TWO Trinidad fugitives wanted for the death of United States war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj are safe in protective custody in Washington DC to face trial for taking Maharaj hostage.

Russell “Saucy” Joseph, 33, and Winston Gittens, 38, were extradited to Washington recently after they agreed to willingly go to the United States to face their trial.

They were escorted to the US by two agents of the FBI who came to Trinidad on separate days to take the fugitives to Washington.

Joseph and Gittens are among eight Trinidadians wanted for taking Maharaj hostage.

Maharaj, aged 62, lived at Mount Vernon, New York. He came to Trinidad in 2005 to spend a vacation with relatives.

He was liming at the Samaan Tree Bar in Aranjuez on April 5, 2005, when a car pulled up and three occupants took him away.

Maharaj, a native of Trinidad, was a citizen of the US having served in World War II. A ransom of $3 million was demanded for his release. But Maharaj died in the hands of his kidnappers. No money was ever paid.

It was not until January 9 this year that his mutilated remains were found in two containers inside the Santa Cruz forest.

The discovery was made after local police received assistance from the US FBI.

So far, ten persons have been charged with his murder in Trinidad, and a warrant is out for another man. While the charges were laid in Trinidad, the US Grand Jury sat in Washington and indicted eight Trinidadians in April for taking Maharaj hostage.

Among them were four of those charged with his murder — Zion Clarke, Private Ricardo De Four, Sgt Leon Nurse, and Kevon Demerieux.

Joseph, who was described by the Grand Jury as the person who drove the getaway car with Maharaj, was picked up later on a provisional warrant.

Gittens, a taxi driver, who was never charged in Trinidad, was also arrested for the role he played in the kidnapping.

Now that Joseph and Gittens are in the US, Sunday Newsday was reliably informed yesterday that Joseph and Gittens have been cooperating fully with the US authorities.

They are reportedly discussing a plea deal with the US Attorney’s office.

They are planning to plead guilty to the charges, hoping for a lesser sentence. Once they strike a deal, the two Trinidadians will turn witnesses for the prosecution against the other fugitives.

Witnesses from Trinidad, including the complainant in the murder case in Port-of-Spain, Cpl Wendell Lucas, are expected to be flown to the US to testify in the hostage taking trial there.

The extradition hearing against the other four comes up on May 25 before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.