EVEN though he lived walking distance away from two policemen and a soldier, marathon runner Peter Andrews was killed yesterday morning.

Andrews, 45, who is mostly known as "Shortman", was seen lying in his yard around 4 a.m. yesterday by a policeman who lived across from Andrews at Rosehill Street, Claxton Bay. Andrews lived alone.

Andrews's brother, Corporal Patterson Andrews, who lived behind him, was notified by the other policeman.

Patterson Andrews, the other policeman and their two sons found the deceased bleeding and lying on his right shoulder. There was one stab wound to the chest.

Andrews was rushed to the Couva District Health Facility, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Andrews, a veteran marathoner, took his last training run on Saturday evening, from Claxton Bay to Pointe-a-Pierre and back.

He was preparing to race next Sunday in the UWI-SPEC Half Marathon.

Andrews ran his first Trinidad and Tobago Marathon back in 1984 and he was consistently among the top 20 finishers in the annual classic.

He was a founding and life member of Athletics Central, always sporting the club's green and white outfit. He participated in most of the major road races in the country.

News of his death plunged both the road-running fraternity and the Claxton Bay community into mourning. Andrews was described as a "nice person" who was a mentor to youths in his village, steering them toward fitness and sports.

And this is the second time in nine months that a member of the Andrews family was killed.

On January 24, Andrews's nephew, Aldon Pegus, a dog trainer, was shot and killed outside his home. Pegus lived next-door to the Andrews family.

Andrews's family members are clueless as to why someone would want to kill him.

They said Andrews was a humble person, known to everyone in the area where he lived and he "had no beef with anybody".

No-one heard or saw anything that may be able to assist police in their investigations, said family and friends.

Patterson Andrews said: "I was up in the gallery with my son till around 12.30. I then went inside and watched TV till about 3.30. I would usually look at the house before I go to sleep, but this time I did not do it. I don't know how long he was there for or what happened."

Andrews's girlfriend, Juliana Mitchell, said Andrews was planning to participate in the upcoming UWI half-marathon.

A tearful Mitchell said: "He (Andrews) told me that if the registration was closed off, he would have cried. He wanted to participate so badly. He was a good person. He have no beef with anybody. I want the person who did this to him to be caught and be brought to justice."

An autopsy is expected to take place today.

Officers from the Couva Police Station are continuing investigations.

The murder toll now stands at 328, according to an Express tally.