PRISON OFFICER GUNNED DOWN

A 35-year-old Prison Officer, Winston Sandy, who worked as a paramedic, was gunned down in a deserted dirt trace at Rose Hill, Laventille on Tuesday night around 11 o’clock. Residents said they heard the gunshots, but were too afraid to venture out of their homes.

Sandy’s body was found about six hours later by a group of policemen and soldiers who were engaged in Operation Baghdad in Laventille. Sandy lived at Clifton St, Laventille and was said to have been on his way home when he took a shortcut through the track at Rose Hill and was gunned down. He was shot five times, twice at the back of his head, twice in his back and once on his hand. The body was viewed by Dr M Pounder and taken to the Forensic Science Centre. Cpl Rommel James is investigating. Sandy was dressed in black jersey, black pants and black sneakers and was due to resume work yesterday after his day off from the Prison.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime, Oswyn Allard who led the Baghdad operation, was on the scene and comforted Sandy’s mother Evelyn and his sister Joanne who were distraught.  He promised them that the Police would do all in their power to find the killers, and that Laventille would be a safe place again. On the scene where Sandy was killed, Claudius Galston, President of the Prison Officers Association, expressed shock and concern about the brutal attack on an innocent prison officer and called for some government policy to protect prison officers. Also on the scene and expressing outrage at the murder was the Association’s public relations officer, Carlyle Babb.