The security guard who was chopped to death and left at the side of the road in Bagatelle, Diego Martin, on Thursday, was employed at the Prime Minister’s official residence in St Ann’s.
Police yesterday described the killing of security officer Michael Dennis “as extremely brutal.”
According to homicide officers, Dennis, 28, who worked as a security guard with Executive Security at Diplomatic Centre, was chopped at least 25 times to the head.
The chop wounds penetrated his skull and damaged his brain, investigators said.
Police said it appeared that Dennis attempted to defend himself as some of his fingers were chopped off.
One officer told the T&T Guardian that Dennis’ face was mutilated by chop wounds.
Western Division officers said they are unclear of a motive but believe robbery was part of the reason as Dennis was killed as his Toyota car, which he worked PH taxi, was missing.
According to police, around 4 pm on Thursday, a passer-by stumbled upon Dennis’ body along a track off Pinehill, Bagatelle in Diego Martin. Police said Dennis’ feet were tied together.
Dennis lived at Bagatelle, Diego Martin, and was last seen alive Thursday morning. Police officers said they were told by residents Dennis never got himself in trouble with the law and they were shocked to hear he was killed in such a manner.
An online report, quoted one of his friends, Kwasi Selman, as one of the last person to speak to Dennis.
Selman stated in the report that he spoke to Dennis around 1.45 pm on Wednesday and Dennis told him that he got a private job in the Diego Martin area.
“I am trying to picture what he was thinking, how he felt going through that, because he obviously went out slow and painful. And it is really wrong for that to happen to him,” the report by 96.1 WEFM stated.
“Michael was always at work. When he not working by the PM’s residence, he was on the road to make extra money. His mother left a spot for him in Savannah Terrace (Bagatelle) and he was working to build his house. He started and the first effort was burnt down,” Selman stated.
“He was hard working and loving, always smiling and always making jokes. If you had a bad day, just seeing Michael would make you laugh,” he said.