A 34-year-old man appeared virtually before the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the May 9th killing of Hakeem Thomas.
MIGUEL CELESTINE, 34, of Lowlands and Adventure Estate, Plymouth, was remanded into custody and is expected to reappear on June 20th, 2023.
CELESTINE was charged with Murder, Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Ammunition by PC Wharwood on May 22nd.
This is the second murder to be solved in the Tobago Division for 2023 with four other investigations being actively pursued.
According to a police report, on May 9th, around 12.02 pm Thomas was at the corner of Buccoo Road and Robert Trace, Mt Pleasant with other people when a silver grey Nissan Note motor vehicle pulled alongside Thomas.
Police further learned that the driver and rear right side passenger doors opened and the occupants allegedly pointed guns in the direction of Thomas and several loud explosions were heard.
The group began running from the scene, however, Thomas fell to the ground a short distance away. The assailants then escaped from the scene in the vehicle.
Thomas was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region One Office took lead in the investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of Hakeem Thomas.
With the assistance of the Tobago Division Task Force, on May 15th, CELESTINE was arrested and cautioned by HBI detectives.
On May 22nd, an audience was held with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, where advice was received that MIGUEL CELESTINE be charged for the offences.
The investigation was supervised by ASP (Ag.) Bridglal, Insps Lynch and Mongroo, and Insp (Ag.) Joefield, Sgt Quashie-George all of the HBI Region One with the assistance of officers attached to the Cyber Crime Unit and Research Analytical Unit.