Two men arguing over religion on Thursday night ended with one dead and the other being sought by police for his killing. There were 188 murders up to late yesterday.
Police said Clint Julien, 36, of Maturita Extension, Arima, and others were preaching along the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, near the old police station when a group of Muslim men approached them and the two groups began arguing.
Police said the disagreement began just after 8 pm and after an exchange of words one of the Muslim men went to his car, pulled out a knife and stabbed Julien who ran along the roadway and collapsed. He was taken to the Arima Health Facility and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he died early yesterday.
Police said the two were arguing over Julien’s faith as Julien was a practising Jehovah’s Witness.
After the stabbing the attacker fled and is being sought by police. When the T&T Guardian visited the address given by police for Julien, the home was locked and neighbours did not wish to speak to the media.
Police said the killing is not a case of religious persecution adding that the murder has “weakened the fabric of our cosmopolitan society.”
In an unrelated incident, which took place within the same division, a known drug addict was chopped to death early yesterday.
Police said 18-year-old Nigel “Skettle” Griffith was found dead with wounds to his head at the side of a playing field at Recreation Road, Arima Old Road, Arima.
Residents told the T&T Guardian that Griffith, who used to do odd jobs in the area, was found around 8 am. They added that Griffith was wanted by the police and lived in a wooden shack to the back of an incomplete house one street away from where his body was found almost in a foetal position. Police said residents claimed Griffith was a “troubled youth in the area.”
Police said they received a telephone call alerting them to the discovery shortly after 8 am. When they arrived they found Griffith’s body.