ttgapers.com

Accused murderers, Shevon "Buffy" Peters, 20, Keidan "Ileida" Garcia, brothers Marlon "Madman" Tremmingham, 22, and Earl "Bobo" Tremmingham, 30, Ronald "22" Armstrong, Antonio "Hedges" Charles, Joey "Joey Ogiste" Lewis, Akiel "Crime B" Gloster and Joel "Ninja" Fraser, all from Upper La Puerta, Diego Martin, made their first appearance in court charged for the murder of Vindra Naipaul-Coolman.

Noticeably absent were relatives of Naipaul-Coolman, including her husband Rennie Coolman who, ironically, police alleged, had been defrauded of TT$95,000 by Diego Martin resident Alisha Chunu in relation to Naipaul-Coolman’s disappearance.

Spokesman Peters stated, "We are all brethren here, right, Miss, and we either have children or have children to come," was what Shervon Peters used as the basis for his argument to Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim for a quick enquiry so "this could go to the High Court".

In response to Peters's concern, Lee Kim told him that while she was adjourning the matter to Wednesday, it did not mean that the State will be ready to start. They were not called upon to plead and Lee Kim told them that the offence was not bailable.

Attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips is representing Fraser. The other eight accused were unrepresented but anxiously told Lee Kim they intend to get lawyers. Godson-Phillips applied for disclosure of several items including the station diary extract and other "diarised" extracts from the time he was arrested to the time he was charged, the different locations he was kept, the register of his feeding and meals, any interviews conducted during Fraser's detention, including any written and oral statements.

In related news a tenth suspect was arrested at Piarco Airport attempting to board a flight to St. Vincent. Up to late yesterday the man was being questioned by the Homicide Bureau and charges are expected to be laid. He is apparently related to one of the nine previously charged.

ACP Maurice Piggott said, "The kidnapping investigation is far from over. The present situation does not mean that kidnapping charges will not be preferred during the course of this investigation."