Five men have appeared before a Sangre Grande Magistrate charged in connection with the murder of 53-year-old shop owner, John Samaroo.
According to the Police Service, Torrance Villafana aka ‘Bully’, 21; Justin Durity, 22; Javon Moora aka ‘Mickey’, 25; Ferdinand Moora aka ‘Ferdi’, 32; Bonifacio Moora aka ‘Chin’, 46; all of Guaico Tamana, Sangre Grande, face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, while Villafana is on the additional charge of murder.
The accused appeared before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland in the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court yesterday and the case has been adjourned to today.
Samaroo, the owner of J&J Mini Mart, also of Guaico Tamana, was outside his business place, when he was accosted by masked men on June, 21.
A female relative, who heard his cries for help, ran to his assistance when she was also attacked by a masked man who attempted to slit her throat.
The attackers then made good their escape and the woman was taken to hospital. The victim was later found dead with his throat slit. The five were arrested between July 1 and 7, 2018, at their respective homes and later charged after advice was received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul on Tuesday.
The investigations were supervised by Inspector Andrew Lawrence and Sgt Hezron Lynch of Homicide Bureau Investigations Region 2, while Cpl Daryl Seecharan, also of HBI Region 2, laid the charges.