One of four suspects held hours after the murder of a 52-year-old Diego Martin man on Monday morning, is claiming his hand was broken by police while under interrogation. The 20-year-old suspect of Four Roads, Diego Martin, remained under police guard at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital up to late yesterday. He is expected to undergo surgery today to repair the damaged limb.
Speaking through his attorney Faeroe Ali, the suspect, who cannot be named because he is yet to face charges, said shortly after being arrested on Monday morning, he and his three friends were taken to the Four Roads Police Station.
The four men, who were arrested after a photograph of the victim’s body was recorded on their cellphones, claimed they were taken to a secluded room where they were beaten by a group of police. The suspect’s hand broke during the beating which lasted several hours. He was then taken to hospital for treatment while his friends remained detained at the station. Besides the allegation of police brutality, Ali also claimed his clients were not allowed to call an attorney until Wednesday. He said he would wait until the suspects were charged or released before pursuing the matter further through a civil lawsuit.
According to reports, Steven Khan, of Tomato Trace, Bagatelle, left home around 9.30 pm on Sunday to lime with friends at Simeon Road, Petit Valley. Around 1.30 am the next day his body was found at Dillon Street, Diego Martin. Less than two hours later the suspects were arrested while driving along the Lady Young Road, Morvant. Khan’s Mitsubishi Libero station wagon was found abandoned at a gas station in Morvant Junction.