By Alexander Bruzual Friday, December 11 2009

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Leston Elvis...

After spending three days on the run, a 28-year-old murder accused was reportedly caught on Wednesday night at his grandmother’s home, and subsequently brought before a Port-of-Spain magistrate.

Leston Elvis, of Wharton Street, Laventille, appeared yesterday before Magistrate Nirmala Maharaj-Loquan in the Third Court. He was slapped with three charges including unlawfully escaping police custody, assaulting Police Constable Ramdell, and stealing a pair of handcuffs, valued at $280.

On Sunday, Elvis escaped from the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after pushing down a police officer at the Casualty Department where he had gone to seek medical attention for a self- inflicted wound.

For three days he managed to stay under the radar of the police. However, information reaching the Central Police Station led officers to a house along Indian Walk, Moruga Road, Princes Town where Elvis was discovered.

Acting Woman Police Sergeant, Patricia Edwards, laid the charge. He was remanded in custody until his appearance before Maharaj-Loquan.

The first two charges were laid indictably and Elvis was not called upon to plead. However, he pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge.

He was represented by defence attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips. However the attorney said he was not making any bail applications as he was aware there was a capital charge brought against his client.

The matter was adjourned to December 17, when Elvis is expected to reappear with a 15-year-old minor who is co-accused for the murder, in the 4A Court before Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan.

Bellerand, 23, a father of one, also lived at Upper Wharton Street, Laventille was shot dead by two men who waited for him inside the Success Laventille Health Centre located on Espinet Street.