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| Photos by Suelika N. Buchanan/SKNVibes.com |
By Suelika N. Buchanan
Editor-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Sherwin George a.k.a. Squeaky of Hyliger Alley, Fort Street has been arrested in connection with the recent murder of 31-year-old Michelle Weekes-Benjamin.
So far, her husband and brother-in-law, Leroy Benjamin Jr. and William "Willy" Benjamin respectively have been charged with the murder.
According to a top police officer, more arrests will be made. The recent murder of the woman has left many shaken by the violent act.
Weekes-Benjamin one of the managers at National Bank whom had been reported missing on Monday October 30, was found dead in an unfinished septic-tank in a building under construction on Rosemary Lane, Basseterre.
The people of St. Kitts have become very emotional about the recent murder, it "hits home" and to some women it could have been them. The Women's Group of St. Kitts have been holding candle light vigils in memory of Weekes-Benjamin recently.
The police have said that investigations are ongoing and are tight-lipped about the case not wanting to prejudice the matter.
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| The Acting Commissioner of Police Meredith Charles sat down with SKNVibes.com recently |
The Acting Commissioner of Police Meredith Charles sat down with SKNVibes.com recently and spoke about the case and some of the rumors that have arrived out of it.
One of the rumors spoke about a bed belonging to the home of Weekes-Benjamin that had gone missing and was found in a ghaut by Police.
Charles said that it was a fact that the bed had been missing; however, he said that it has not been recovered as yet.
He also said that from their investigations they strongly believed that the crime was committed at the home at Carifesta Village, St. Peters.
According to the Commissioner it appeared she was smothered with a pillow and died at her home sometime between Sunday October 29, and in the wee hours of Monday October 30. After which the body was transported to the septic-tank on Rosemary Lane.
~~Adz:Right~~ A question that everyone was asking was why the police waited until two days after the body was found to release the identity of the body.
Charles said that the body was found on Wednesday Nov. 1 and that on Friday Nov. 3 a pathologist flew in from Barbados and conducted the autopsy.
"Although we could not definitively articulate that the body found and where it was found was that of Michelle Weekes-Benjamin at the time because a systematic examination could not have been carried out that day," he said. "We wanted to sustain all evidence associated with the body and we waited for the Pathologist to carry out investigations where the body was unclothed for a systematic, forensic analysis."
He also said that before they made any statements they wanted to make certain that they were completely accurate of the identity of the deceased.
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| William "Willy" Benjamin |
"What we did was the proper handwritten procedure," he said.
Another rumor amounted and said that the younger brother had a stabbed wound on one of his hands. The commissioner did not reveal the specifics but did confirm the rumor was true.
"Yes he had cuts on his body and particularly on one of his hands," he said.
~~Adz:Right~~The commissioner said the police investigators have been checking the rumors but have found nothing tangible.
"I would like people to come forward with evidence, we don't want to strive on rumors," the Commissioner said.
Another rumor that circulated was that one of the construction workers of the building informed the police that an individual kept checking with them in wanting to know when the cement would have been poured into the septic-tank.
The rumor also said that the construction worker informed the police that they had told the individual that the cement would have been poured in the tank on Monday.
The rumor continued by saying that the body was therefore "dumped" the night before where it would have been sealed in with the cement on Monday, but however, due to rain the cement was not poured resulting in the foul smell and the body being found.
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| Leroy Benjamin Jr. |
"Again that is waffle talk," Charles said.
A total of four persons were brought in, in connection with the murder of Weekes-Benjamin, two were arrested and two were released.
~~Adz:Right~~The police have gathered enough information so far as needed from the crime scene but can possibly return to the scene for further investigations.
SKNVibes.com asked the Commissioner if there were reports made to the police from Weekes-Benjamin in the past of complaints concerning her husband or brother-in-law to which the commissioner said "no comment".
There have also been several persons calling in on radio talk shows asking for the resigning of Pastor Leroy Benjamin, father of both accuse as Force Chaplin of the Police and Supervisor of Elections.
Sknvibes.com asked the commissioner to comment on the matter to which he replied, "We are not getting into that."
"We condemn all killings, we despise this type of behavior and actions among citizens and we would like to see the nation, take a dramatic change in terms of their behavior," he said. "To one another they should respect and love each other."
