(Trinidad Guardian) One of the men charged with the murder of British-born attorney Richard Wheeler and his wife Grace, accused police investigators of torture when he appeared in court yesterday.
Murder accused Naajip Hills 23, a national of St Vincent, told Tobago magistrate Cheryl-Anne Antoine that police officers squeezed his testicles during interrogation. He also claimed that he was coerced by investigators to ignore his constitutional rights. Police prosecutor Marvin Campbell denied the allegations.
Hills, who has been living in Tobago for the past three years, and Andre Romeo, 29, a Tobagonian, from Mt Pleasant, both construction workers, were represented by Legal Aid attorneys Kern Edwards and Romeo was represented by legal aid attorney Tara Thompson.
They are accused of murdering the couple between October 18 and October 21, at their home at Riseland Gardens, Carnbee. Richard Wheeler, 72, was chopped multiple times while his 67-year-old wife’s throat was slit.
Richard was a senior partner of the law firm Lex Caribbean, based in Tobago, while his wife worked as a real estate agent at Island Invest-ments, in the island.
The police file against the two men is to be sent to Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s, so that a State attorney can be appointed in the matter. The men are scheduled to reappear in court on November 24.
The courtroom was packed with employees from Lex Caribbean and Island Investments and friends and family of the victims and the accused for the brief hearing.
Acting Inspector Rodhill Kirk of the Tobago Homicide Bureau laid the charges.
