Murder toll up to 163

The murder toll now stands at 163 with the death of a 43-year-old Barataria man yesterday morning.

Rupert David Belarun was at home, at about 9.45 am, when a masked man entered his house, police report.

Neighbours and relatives heard a loud explosion and when they checked, Belarun was found bleeding from gunshot wounds to his head and neck.

Officers from the Barataria Police Station and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations responded to the call.

A district medical officer viewed the body and ordered it to be removed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital mortuary.

Belarun was employed as a security officer at a school.

Meanwhile, a suspect has been charged for the murder of 32-year-old Steven Maraj, who was shot dead at his Petersville Street, Cunupia home, on Saturday.

According to police reports, a dispute started between Maraj and a neighbour, at about 9.30 am. The neighbour left the compound and returned to Maraj’s house with a licensed firearm.

Maraj was found dead by relatives.

The body was viewed by a district medical officer who had it taken to the mortuary at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

The suspect will appear at a Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court today.