A DAY after the attempted murder of a man at Ste Madeleine, a witness to the crime who helped police identify suspects was shot dead on Monday night.

Kevin Ellis, a "PH" driver, of Montgomery Street, was killed near his home.

Ellis, 26, was shot in his head, face and upper body and died at the scene.

The murder toll for the year to date is now 44.

Police said yesterday Ellis was a witness to an attack in which Sean Baptiste, also of Ste Madeleine, was beaten unconscious on Sunday.

Baptiste, 33, was at home when two men —one armed with a piece of lumber, the other with rocks—entered his house. The men beat Baptiste about his head and body, and left him for dead.

Baptiste was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, and transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital for treatment by a specialist neurologist.

He was listed yesterday in critical condition.

Ellis's neighbour, Shilana Charles, said yesterday Ellis died in the yard of her home.

Charles said shortly after 7 p.m., she was at home helping her three children with homework when she heard Ellis calling out to her at her window.

"He came and ask me for some juice. I told him I didn't have any and he said okay, and he dropped down the curtain. I sat down and continued what I was doing and within a minute I heard gunshots, about six or seven, ringing out. I thought I got shot too because it was so loud," said Charles.

Charles said she and her brother grabbed the children and ran to the back of the house. A short while later she heard screaming and crying and saw Ellis's sisters over his body.

The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James. for an autopsy yesterday.

Homicide Division officers are investigating.