An Arima man is expected to appear before a Chaguanas Magistrate on Monday 28th August 2023, charged with the murder of Taramattie Maharaj, which occurred on Sunday 21st May 2023.

According to the TTPS, CARL COX, 57, of Pinto, Arima, was charged with the offence following advice received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Honore-Paul, on August 18th, 2023. Maharaj, 48, a security officer, was at work on Saturday 8th April, 2023, at the St. Helena Hindu Primary School, when she got into an altercation with a man.

During the incident, the male suspect allegedly poured a flammable substance on the victim, before setting her ablaze and then leaving the premises. The victim was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she subsequently died on Sunday 21st May, 2023. A male suspect surrendered himself to the Las Lomas Police Post on Sunday 9th April, 2023.

Cox was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He appeared before a Chaguanas Magistrate and was remanded at the Golden Grove Prison. Upon the death of the victim, Cox was charged on Thursday 24th August, 2023, with murder by way of warrant by PC Daniel of the Chaguanas Criminal Investigations Department (CID), following the advice of Deputy DPP Joan Honore-Paul.

Investigations were supervised by ASP Persad of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region Three, with the assistance of PC Daniel of the Chaguanas CID.