The Year 2015 saw CNC3’s Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne breaking some of the country’s top stories, some of which became the talk-of-the-town, while others proved to be exclusives that showcased Alleyne’s ability to bring justice to victims of crime.
Alleyne described the past year as one brimming with success, since he covered approximately 700 stories and initiated investigations in most of them.
He expressed much pride at being able to carry his live one-hour prime time reality show to that next level.
This week, Alleyne dug deep into his 2015 archives and highlighted some of his top stories of the year.
One of the biggest stories was when he single-handedly wrestled with gunmen in an attempt to foil a carjacking and robbery of a taxi driver, along the Southern Main Road, Frederick Settlement, Caroni. That incident occurred on August 18.
Two teenagers, ages 17 and 18 from Trou Macaque, Laventille, were subsequently apprehended.
Subsequent to the deadly prison break which occurred on July 24, Alleyne showed a video that dominated social media of guns being fired off during the Islamic funeral of one of the escapees, Allan “Scanny” Martin, at the Munroe Road Public Cemetery.
Scanny was one of three prisoners who shot his way to freedom from the Port-of-Spain Prison, Frederick Street.
Scanny was cornered on the compound of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by tactical officers, who opened fire on him, killing him instantly. A firearm and a cellphone were found near his body.
Scanny’s funeral took place on July 27, 2015, which was also the 25th anniversary of the 1990 Attempted Coup. Ironically, the person who led that coup, Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, and his son, Fuad, attended Scanny’s funeral.
Alleyne, this week, revisited that story by showing a video where he was escorted out of the Jamaat’s Mucurapo compound when he attempted to meet with the Imam. There was an exchange of words between Alleyne and a group of Jamaat-al-Muslimeen members. Alleyne said he was not afraid of them and their intimidatory tactics towards him.
Alleyne also launched his own investigation into the alleged hanging death of security guard, Meggan Mohammed, 22. She was found hanging from a shoelace tied around a rafter of the dormitory of Amalgamated Security Services Limited, Prince of Wales Street, San Fernando, at about 3 pm on June 7, 2015.
Alleyne managed to make contact with senior forensic pathologist Hubert Daisley and a second autopsy was conducted at Guide’s Funeral Home in Couva.
In that independent autopsy, Daisley showed there were fractures to the neck bone, haemorrhaging to one of the eyes, injuries to the hands and other marks of violence inconsistent with the results of the first autopsy which stated that death was due to hanging. That autopsy was done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James earlier this month.
Subsequent to the findings, Alleyne got in contact with one of Mohammed’s close male friends where he interviewed him along with a female friend.
In similar circumstances, Alleyne was called to the Bamboo No 3 area where resident Reynold “Freddie” Williams, 41, was allegedly found hanging from the rafter of his bedroom on June 12, 2015.
Working on certain information received, Alleyne subsequently met with the last two people who were seen liming with Williams before his death.
Alleyne carried out extensive and intensive discussions with both men and was subsequently taken to a bridge near the highway where Williams’ wallet was found. The men were then taken back to Williams’ house where one of them allegedly disclosed certain information to Alleyne.
The police were subsequently called in and both men were taken into custody.
Alleyne’s compassionate side was also shown on live television in a case where a desperate mother, Marilyn Adams, had appeared on Crime Watch on September 17 pleading with him to help her get back her silver AD wagon PDH4363, which was stolen sometime between September 16 and September 17.
Adams told Alleyne that her critically ill daughter was warded at the Intensive Care Unit at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope.
Adams’ daughter’s wheelchair and oxygen tank were in the vehicle which the thieves stole.
Alleyne was able to get another car for the family with a wheelchair and oxygen tank.
On September 30, Alleyne gave maximum performance when he kept to his word and recovered a stolen vehicle in less than nine hours after highlighting it on his show.
The vehicle belonged to a visually impaired/dialysis patient Aarti Mohammed, 28, and her husband, Adris.
Adris, guiding his wife, Aarti, on set along with their young son, pleaded desperately for Alleyne to help him find their white C33 Medalist PBE 6474, which was stolen at about 10.30 am that same day at Atlantic Plaza, Point Lisas. The vehicle sported green fluorescent rims.
At about 4 am the following day, Alleyne received information that the vehicle was dropped off in St Joseph near a roti shop. Alleyne made his way there and contacted Adris, who positively identified the vehicle as his via customised items in the vehicle. It was also discovered that the fluorescent green rims had been spray-painted in black on the outer parts.