Two Morvant residents were taken before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with the murder of shopkeeper Shirley Thomas. Nigel "Dufu" Myers, 30, and Nick Julien Noreiga, also called "Skinnies" and "Buck", stood before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Court where the charge was read. Thomas, 49, a mother of two, died in her shop when gunmen alighted from a vehicle and opened fire close to her businessplace on November 9.
Two others also were wounded during the gunplay. The accused are charged, together with others (unnamed), with the murder of Thomas. They also are accused of shooting Michelle John with the intent to murder her, as well as shooting at Jamaican national Jason Umbrigo. The charges stem from a shooting incident outside Thomas' parlour at La Pomme Trace, Morvant, on November 9, this year. Myers is being represented by attorneys Wayne Sturge and Fareed Ali.
Yesterday, Ali said while he wanted a speedy hearing to the matter, he wanted disclosure from the prosecution. Noreiga, meantime, asked that a Legal Aid attorney be appointed to defend him. They were ordered back in court on December 13. On November 9, gunmen came out of a vehicle in front of Thomas' parlour at La Pomme Trace and opened fire. Thomas and two others were shot. The gunmen then sped off.