Homicide detectives have launched a manhunt for two bandits who murdered a 28-year-old woman in front of her boyfriend during an attack in at their home in a gated community in central Trinidad on Sunday night.
Although investigators released details of the getaway car reportedly used by the couple’s attackers to the public in a bid to identify the culprits, the suspects had not been apprehended up to late yesterday.
According to reports, shortly after 7.30 pm, 35-year-old businessman Riaz Mohammed and his girlfriend Alisha Ali were at his Ozone Park, Gurahoo Trace, Chase Village, home, when they heard a loud bangs on the front door and then a man screaming Mohammed’s name.
Police said as Mohammed opened the door to check on the disturbance, he was bundled inside by two knife and gun-wielding intruders.
Using plastic tie straps, the two suspects restrained the couple and began torturing them to reveal Mohammed’s hiding spot for cash earned in his used car dealership.
Both Mohammed and Ali were stabbed several times before they eventually acceded to the duo’s demands and pointed them towards $60,000 in cash which was hidden in the house.
Investigators said the men retrieved the loot and while exiting the house without warning one of the men turned around and attacked Ali slitting her throat. They then escaped in a white Nissan Wingroad.
Traumatised by what he had just witnessed and reeling from his own injuries, Mohammed still managed to muster the strength to break free of his restraints and contacted police, who arrived within minutes.
The couple was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility, where Ali, an employee of oil company Trinity Exploration and Production was pronounced dead on arrival. Mohammed was stabilised and transfered to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.
The T&T Guardian understands that Mohammed relatives moved him to a private medical institution yesterday afternoon over fears that the attackers may return to kill him as he witnessed Ali’s murder and saw their faces.
In an interview at the Forensic Science Centre in St James following Ali’s autopsy yesterday afternoon, her father Ibrahim said he did not want to comment extensively on the incident as he only knew basic information from news reports.
However, Ibrahim was critical of police officers who he claimed were abusive when they prevented him from viewing his daughter’s body when he visited the crime scene on Sunday night.
“What it is to let a grieving father see his daughter after that? I love my children the only thing I ain’t do is breastfeed them” an emotional Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim also said he was skeptical that police would solve his daughter’s murder. “Look at how much murders it have for the year. How much get solve? How much people get convicted?” Ibrahim lamented. Anyone with information on the incident or the getaway vehicle, which may assist in police in their investigation are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS (8477) or their nearest police station.
Police appeal for help
Speaking with media personnel at the crime scene on Sunday, head of the Central Division Senior Supt Johnny Abraham called on members of the public to assist in solving the crime.
“I am asking the public for help because somebody would have seen that vehicle in their area at some point in time in the day,” Abraham said.
While the senior police officer stated that his officers were working hard to curb an recent increase in homicides in their division he said they were still facing challenges.“This kind of homicide really hard to detect unless you in close proximity and you get the call one time because this happen in a house.
“We are really concentrating on the residential and shopping areas but we have to do some more patrols on the outer areas and more road blocks,” Abraham said. He also suggested that home owners invest in personal home security devices which have become popular and affordable in recent years.
“People need to be more cautious and take more responsibility. Cameras very cheap, everybody supposed to have a camera now for their well being,” Abraham said.