Couple charged with murder of Trinidadian police woman

A main suspect in the murder of a female Trinidadian police officer, who was believed to be making attempts to escape to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) was apprehended in Trinidad last Friday, March 17.

Last Thursday, two fishermen who were trawling for shrimp fished the body of Woman Police Constable (WPC) Nyasha Joseph, 22, out of the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad and Tobago.

WPC Joseph’s decomposing body was found in a bag that was attached to a rope and three concrete blocks.

In a press release dated March 17, 2017, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) stated, “Our Trinidad counterparts have been contacted and have disclosed that the suspect was detained and is no longer on the run. Another suspect had surrendered to police there just hours after Joseph’s body was found.”

Meanwhile, according to Trinidad and Tobago NEWSDAY, the southern island state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) Roger Gaspard on Sunday gave instructions to lay murder charges against a 39-year-old labourer and his 36-year-old girlfriend for Joseph’s murder.

They were expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday.

NEWSDAY also reported that the DPP ordered that a 24-year-old man and a 34-year-old who were detained in connection with the murder be released.

An autopsy said Joseph’s death was inconclusive; however, it is believed that she was smothered. A total of six persons were detained in the inquiry.

In their release, the RSVGPF further stated, “regarding the news release issued by the police here on March 11, 2017 that an investigation had been launched into a bulletin, which was circulated on social media that a group of men, who were wanted by police in Trinidad and Tobago had escaped to St Vincent and the Grenadines, the police have not received any update regarding the authenticity of the claim.”

To this end, “local police here are appealing to Vincentians to remain calm.”