Police are appealing to the suspect in the murder of 45-year-old landlady Vidya Persad to surrender. She was bludgeoned to death with a hammer during an argument with a tenant at her Moulla Trace, Aranguez, San Juan, apartment on Tuesday morning. The man, who is said to be in his 20s, fled the scene after the murder and had not been arrested up to late yesterday. However, police sources told the T&T Guardian he returned to the murder scene on Wednesday to speak with his girlfriend who shared the apartment with him. The sources also said the woman began receiving threats from neighbours after Persad’s murder.
The woman requested a police escort when she went to the apartment on Wednesday night to retrieve her belongings. Officers of the Barataria Police Station provided escort but had to leave after the woman’s transportation did not arrive on schedule, police sources said. The woman subsequently told investigators while waiting at the apartment, the suspect visited her and they had a short conversation. The woman only contacted police after he left.
Police sources said the woman was interrogated and investigators suggested if she communicated with the suspect again she should advise him to surrender to police. The woman was provided with the telephone contacts of several defence attorneys, who police suggested the suspect should meet to arrange the surrender. Insp Wayne Lawrence and Cpl Jones of the Region Two Homicide Bureau are probing Persad’s murder. Members of the public with information which may lead to the suspect’s arrest are asked to contact investigators at 640-1738 or 640-5856.