An Arima man is Tobago’s first murder victim for 2015.
He has been identified as Vernon De Gannes, 40, of Mt Pleasant Local Road, Arima.
According to police reports, De Gannes was killed around 6.30 pm at Coco Watty Trace, Mason Hall, where he lived with his common-law wife Denise Nyack, 42, originally from Edinburgh 500, Trinidad.
They said the couple came home from work and were lying in the bedroom when Nyack got up and went to the kitchen to get a snack. Nyack told police whilst in the kitchen two men entered and began hitting her about the body with an object and knocking her head against the wall.
At the same time, two other men entered the house and went to the bedroom where she heard a loud noise. The four masked men then ran off. After they left, Nyack ran to her neighbour’s house for assistance, but no one was at home. She was able to get the attention of an off-duty female police officer who was passing at the time and the police was contacted.
De Gannes was found lying on his bed with a gaping wound to the neck. No weapon was found on the scene. District Medical Officer Dr Stanley visited the scene and ordered the body removed to the Scarborough Hospital mortuary.
Senior Superintendent Joanne Archie said the couple came to Tobago in 2013 and lived several places before moving to Mason Hall two months ago.
De Gannes, she said, had a pending matter before the court. He was charged in 2013 for the rape of a 13-year-old relative. He was subsequently granted bail. Since then, they were living in Tobago.
A coroner’s inquest was ordered by the Director of Public Prosecutions into the killing.
The Tobago Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations. —Casandra Thompson-Forbes