Suspect in death of State witness charged with murder

A suspect in the shooting death of state witness Kevin Richards, 25, who was arrested on Friday at his Enterprise Street, Longdenville home, was charged yesterday with murder.

The man, 45, was held early Friday when a party of officers, led by Sgt Dennis Housend and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad, executed a search warrant at the home of the suspect and arrested him. He was interviewed by officers of the Homicide Bureau and yesterday, the Ag Director of Public Prosecutions gave instructions for the suspect to be charged. The charge was laid by Sgt Phillip of Couva Homicide and the man will appear before a Chaguanas magistrate today. Richards’ body was discovered in a pond at Longdenville one week ago. The corpse was wrapped in plastic weighted down with rocks, placed in a bag and dumped into a pond at Depot Road, Longdenville. An autopsy carried out at the Forensic Science Centre revealed that death was due to two gunshot wounds to the head. Richards was the state witness in the kidnapping case against Selwyn “Robo Cop” Alexis, Brian Cole, 20, Rooplal Harricharan, 23, and Kevin Simpson, 28, who were charged with the kidnapping of south businessman Sarran Kissondan.