By Cecily Asson
(Trinidad Newsday)
A Guyanese woman and two Trini men appeared yesterday before a San Fernando magistrate charged with the June 29 murder of engineer Andre Joachim.
Natalie King, 29, whose address in Trinidad was given as Cooperative Street in Valsayn stood next to Anthony Allemaney, 29, of Palm Drive, Valsayn and Neil Slater, 43, also known as ‘Harry’, of Siparia in the First Court.
Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan read the charge that the three accused persons on Friday June 29, in the county of Victoria, murdered Joachim. The three accused were not called upon to plead because the charge was laid indictably.
The magistrate remanded the three into custody until August 13. King was also charged with nine counts of larceny totalling TT$34,100 and TT$23,000 worth of jewellery from several persons in East Trinidad, during the period between 2007 and 2011.
Rambachan then read out the larceny charges against King, which alleged that on September 21, 2007, she stole $3,000 from Carol Ann Paul. The other charges alleged that on October 20, 2007, she stole $6,500 from Shinelle Jones at Curepe and on October 20, 2007, stole $3,500 from Sharon Francis in Arima.
And in Tacarigua, between October 29, 2007 and November 1, 2007, King is alleged to have stolen $5,000 from Nikita Sinclair. In Arima on April 18, 2008, King stole $4,000 from Nekia Ford.
In Tunapuna, between March 10, and March 12, 2009, King allegedly stole $3,000 from Jason Bailey. In St Joseph, between November 27, 2009 and November 30, 2009, King stole $2,600 from Kevin Singh. Between May 21 and May 29, 2010, Magistrate Rambachan read, King stole $3,000 from Cathy Ann Thomas in Tunupuna, St Joseph.
In Arouca on March 22, 2011 at the Rocket Hotel, King was charged with stealing $3,500 and $23,000 in jewellery from Diana Bartholomew.
An additional charge was read against King that she committed personal violence against one of the virtual complainants.
Rambachan told King that while bail could not be granted to her on the capital charge of murder, she has the right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail in respect of the larceny charges. King and Allemaney were represented by attorney Giselle Landeau whilst Slater was represented by Sudesh Singh and Lisa Singh.
Rambachan granted a 20-day period for the office of the Director of Public Prosecution to appoint a State attorney in the case. The court’s police prosecutor PC Phillip Ramdath promised to have the files submitted soon. Joachim, a father of ten, was found bound and gagged at his house.
An autopsy revealed he died as a result of suffocation.