Man charged with murder of English cricketer in Trinidad

A man has been charged with the murder of a young English cricketer in Trinidad.

Adrian St John, 22, was shot in an apparent robbery as he picked someone up in San Juan on Sunday night.

Maldon Pascall, 24, has been charged with the Londoner's murder, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service confirmed on Saturday.

A force spokesman said: "Twenty-four year old Maldon Pascall was today, at around 8.30am (local time) Saturday April 16, 2016, formally charged with the murder of British national Adrian St John."

He said that Pascall would appear at Tunapuna Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Mr St John was reportedly robbed of his mobile phone and cash and ordered to drive off before one of the men fired shots at the car, killing him.

The cricketer, described by his coach as a "talented" sportsman who "wouldn't hurt an insect", had been in the country to improve his cricket, his coaches said.

Local media said Mr St John, who is believed to have had plans to one day play for the West Indies, was taken to the nearby Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he died shortly afterwards.

He grew up in Kennington, just minutes from the famous Oval cricket ground in south London, and developed a passion for the sport as a young boy.

He was captain of the Chris Gayle Academy in London and represented Hertfordshire University on the pitch.

After the shooting Gayle, who plays international cricket for the West Indies, tweeted: "Such sad news to hear. My condolences to his family & friends. Adrian St John was the captain of the academy. #Sigh".