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June 26, 2007

3 indicted in Providence gang murder

PROVIDENCE -- A grand jury today indicted three Providence men who are accused in the gang-related murder of 23-year-old Viceth Klakratok in January, the city's first homicide of the year.

Named in the indictment charging each with one count of conspiring to murder and one count of murdering Klakratok are: Sarith Chith, 19, of 140 Bridgham St., Thomas Havey, 19, of 11 Oak Ave., and Tavarez Morales, 18, of 10 Barry Rd, Apt. #1.

The three will be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on July 18, according to a statement from Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office.

The indictment does not detail the case particulars. But earlier this year, the police said that on Jan. 28 that Hanover Boyz street gang members confronted a member of the Young Bloods gang and chased him to his death.

The police arrested two suspects described as Hanover Boyz, and charged them with murder in the slaying of Klakratok, of 110 Atlantic Ave., Elmwood.

When the police announced arrests in the case in late January, they included Veasna F. Pich, 20, of 172 Whitmarsh St., in the West End and a 17-year-old who was not identified because of his age at that time. The third arrest -- of Sarith Chith -- followed soon after.

Pich was not named in today's indictment.

"Our investigation continues" and it's possible other individuals may be charged, said Michael Healey, spokesman for Lynch.

Morales, the 17-year-old who has since turned 18, agreed to be waived out of Juvenile Court and be tried as an adult, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Klakratok was struck in the head several times with a club or pipe and fell in the middle of Cranston Street in the West End, dead from blunt-force trauma, the police and Special Assistant Attorney General James Baum said in January.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:55 AM | Permalink

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