Kareem “Darko” Stanisclaus…Charged with the murder of six fishermen
COUVA – A 27-year-old Sea Lots man has appeared before a magistrate for the murders of a group of fishermen who were attacked on the high seas on July 22
Kareem “Darko” Stanisclaus, of Production Avenue, Sea Lots, appeared before Couva Magistrate Christine Charles just around 3 p.m. on Friday.
He is charged with five counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and six counts of robbery with violence. The charges all stem from the pirate attack on July 22.
It is alleged that he, together with other people, murdered Anand “Beula” Rampersad, 39, Shiva “Arie” Ramdeo, 27, Hemraj “Alex” Sooknanan, 19, Brandon “Curry” Kissoon,21, and Leslie “Shortman” De Boulet, 61.
On Thursday, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul gave police instructions to formally charge Stanisclaus with the offences. Cpl Sunil Ramoutar laid the charges.
Sgt Inshan Teeluck and PC Augustus, of Central Division, also charged Stanisclaus with attempting to murder Brian Seemungal and Robbie Jaggernauth. He is also charged with six counts of robbery with violence. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the Gulf of Paria between July 22 to July 30 and in areas between Facility River in Chaguanas and Carli Bay.
Attorney Celeste St Louis, appeared on behalf of Richard Clarke-Willis, for Stanisclaus.
Armed pirates beat the fishermen, threw them overboard and stole four boats and six engines. The five murder victims went missing and their bodies were later found floating. Two of them Justin Kissoon, 19, and Jason Baptiste, 30, are still missing.
In addition Stanisclaus is charged with six counts of robbery with violence along with Shaquille Roberts, 25, also of Sea Lots, and two women – Iyola John, 18, and Mya Bowrin, 19.
John and Bowrin appeared before Charles on Wednesday jointly charged with Stanisclaus and Roberts.
Charles granted John, of Ste Madeleine and Bowrin, of Gasparillo $100,000 bail each to cover the six charges.
Roberts also appeared in court yesterday but was denied bail for tracing of his criminal record. He is to reappear on Tuesday.
The three others are to reappear on August 28.
