Seventeen years after the stabbing death of Akua Cromwell, officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Cold Case Unit, have charged Prison Officer, RICHARD MONTOUTE, aka ‘Richard’ and ‘Redman’, in connection with the murder.
The accused appeared virtually before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor at the Port of Spain Fifth Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, 2023 to answer the charge.
The matter was postponed to April 4th, 2023 and transferred to the Port of Spain Eight Magistrates’ Court.
Cromwell, 26, of Carenage was on duty at his job in the Sea Lots district on Thursday 10th August, 2006, when he allegedly got into an argument with another man.
During the incident, the man allegedly armed himself with a knife and made threats to kill the victim.
As the argument continued, the assailant allegedly chased the deceased on foot, cornered him and stabbed him in the chest with the knife before running off.
The matter was investigated by HBI Region One detectives who exhausted all avenues available to them at that time.
The matter was then referred to the Cold Case Unit in November 2022 and the file reviewed.
As a result, the Cold Case Specialist made certain recommendations to investigators who then took a clinical approach in bringing closure to the matter.
Following enquiries, a male suspect was arrested in connection with the matter.
Montoute was charged with the offence by WPC Pamphile of the Cold Case Unit, on March 9TH, 2023, following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, March 8TH, 2023.
This is the 20th cold case solved by the Cold Case Unit since its launch in 2016.
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