4 charged for murder, guns, ammo seized

Four people have been charged in two separate cases of murder. The police also seized several firearms and ammunition this week.

In a statement on Friday, the police said Gary St Hillaire, aka "Gary Boy," 22, Malcolm Campbell, aka "Gabriel," 22 and Tevin Celestine, 32, all of Maraval, were arrested on August 4. They were wanted in connection with the death of 18-year-old Roger Celestine and the wounding of a man on August 3 in Maraval.

The police said Celestine was at his home with other people when armed men shot at them. He died at the scene and another man was taken to hospital for treatment.

The three men were charged on August 10, following advice received from acting Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul, on that same date, to charge them with the offences of murder and attempted murder. They were expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate on Friday.

The fourth person charged was 22-year-old Kareem Balgobin of Point Fortin, who appeared in the Point Fortin Magistrates’ Court on August 9, charged with the murder of Tevin Stefon Francois on June 28, 2023. He was charged on August 9, following advice from Honore-Paul.

The release said Francois’ body was found with wounds to his head and face at Mc Kenzie Fields Road, Point Fortin on June 28.

Balgobin was the second person charged in connection with this murder. Officers previously charged 28-year-old Yunus Ali of Cedros with the offence on July 21.

Two firearms and a quantity of ammunition were seized in anti-crime exercises.

On Friday, from 2-4 am, officers of the Valencia Criminal Investigations Department and Special Operations Unit executed a search warrant at the home of a 23-year-old suspect, which resulted in the discovery of a pistol, an extended magazine and 11 rounds of ammunition.

North Eastern Division officers conducted an exercise between 10.30 am and 2 pm on Thursday, during which they arrested a 29-year-old Laventille man. They found a loaded revolver in his possession.

Investigations are continuing into the finds.