radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Taxi driver Joseph Bryan Bennett has been charged with the murder of his former common-law wife Arisa Vana David, less than a week after she was killed in front of her two children at her Chaguanas home.
The 36-year-old accused of Chase Village, Chaguanas, is expected to appear before a Chaguanas magistrate today to answer the charges.
In a statement yesterday, the T&T Police Service said Bennett was charged following advice from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore- Paul on Sunday.
David’s funeral took place on Friday and an autopsy said she died from strangulation. Investigations were conducted by Insp Allister Jones and Sgt Hemraj Sirju of the Homicide Bureau while Cpl Steven Forbes laid the charges yesterday.
Relatives said David, 25, was the mother of two girls—ages seven and two. She was said to be in an abusive relationship for the past seven years which became worse since 2016.
Meanwhile, investigators have charged a man of Whiteland with the murder of Daveanand Ramsingh.
Rishie Gopie, 37, of Coorsal Road, Whiteland, was also charged with murder following advice received from Honore-Paul on Sunday.
Ramsingh, 53, of Mathura Avenue, Penal-Quinam Road, Penal, was found lying on the roadway close to his home, with chop wounds to the head, following an altercation he had with another man on April 18, 2017. The victim was taken to hospital where he died.
Those Investigations were led by Insp Darryl Coorie of Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3. Gopie was charged by PC Kevon Nelson on Sunday.
They have also charged a 29-year-old mechanic with the murder of retired police officer Cpl John Ramkissoon.
The Police Service said in a news release that Nankool Ramcharan, of Longdenville, also known as “Danny” was charged with the crime following instructions received from Honore-Paul last Friday.
Ramkissoon, 59, of Gopaul Trace, Palmiste, Longdenville, was stabbed several times to the head during an altercation with another man while at his home on January 1, 2018.
It is alleged Ramkissoon had asked a neighbour to leave his premises where they were liming. However, he was reportedly attacked. Ramkissoon died at the scene. That Investigation was led by acting Supt Lyndon Greenidge of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3.
Ramcharan was charged by WPC Kareema Francois last Friday.