A 40-year-old Special Reserve Police officer has appeared in court charged with the murder of Yannick O’Brian Hercules, which occurred on August 8th 2023.

No. 8590 Police Constable JAVON SKEETE, last attached to the Cumuto Police Station, was charged with the offence when he appeared in the Arima Magistrates’ Court, on December 15th, 2023.

The matter was adjourned to April 26th, 2024. Hercules, aka ‘Salix’ and ‘Biggs’, 36, of Piarco, was at a bar in Arima on August 5th, 2023, when he got into an altercation with another man allegedly over the payment of monies. During the incident, the man drew his licensed firearm and shot in the direction of the victim, hitting him in the chest.

He was taken to the Arima Health Facility and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 8th, 2023. Assisting with the investigation were ASP Victor, Insp. Ramjag, W/Insp. Sylvester, Insp. Simon and Sgt. Campbell, all of Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region Two, which resulted in the arrest of one suspect on December 11th, 2023.

Skeete was charged by ASP Trumpet of the Arima Police Station, on December 14th, 2023, following advice received from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, on that same date.