Petit Valley resident and customary newspaper letter writer Dallas Kidman died yesterday morning, two weeks after he was beaten unconscious by a bandit who stole a small quantity of cash and other valuables from him, police said.
According to police, on November 30 Kidman was approached by a 33-year-old Morvant man who began chatting with the retiree at his Dorchester Walk, Petit Valley, home. During the conversation the man reportedly started to beat the elderly man, then ran into his home and stole small valuables and cash.
Kidman was taken to West Shore Medical where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit until 9 am yesterday when he died. The suspect, of Cajuca Road, Morvant, appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with attempted murder and robbery, police said. Police said the charges will be amended following discussions with the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
In two other unrelated incidents, homicide detectives are investigating the murder of PH driver O’Neil Sampson, 30. Sampson was reportedly driving his white Mitsubishi Lancer along Bagatelle Extension, San Juan, around 9.30 pm on Sunday when he was attacked by two gunmen. Sampson ran off the road, came out and ran a short distance before collapsing. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Complex, Mt Hope, by North Eastern Division Task Force members, but died undergoing treatment.
Police said Sampson, a father of one who recently moved into the area, was killed because he was seen transporting a “certain man” in the area regularly. About four hours after Sampson was killed, a murderer took the life of Phillip Francis, 35, of Bulls Lane, Valencia. Police said around 1.30 am yesterday, Francis was leaving his girlfriend’s Gill Street home when a man called out to him. When he turned around the man shot Francis at least nine times. He died on the spot.
The killing of all three men have taken the murder toll to 384 for the year, 15 more than the corresponding period last year.