By Suelika N. Buchanan
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| Major Leroy “Fishy” Percival of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Major Leroy “Fishy” Percival of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force spoke out about the recent charge of murder brought against an officer of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force, Louis Richards.
Richards is charged with murder following an incident which took place in Old Road on August, 3 with the result of Clyde Williams being shot in the chest and died.
Since the incident residents in the Federation have been calling for the police to take serious action against the soldier who was not charged until recently.
Some described Richards as “trigger happy” and called in on Voices after the incident demanding that the police arrest and charge the soldier.
The Acting Police Commissioner Stafford Liburd, confirmed the murder charge and when asked if the police had evidence to justify the charge, he said... “I don’t want to further comment on the matter but yes I will confirm he was charged with murder.”
Major Percival spoke to SKNVibes.com exclusively and said that he found the charge “strange”.
~~Adz:Right~~ “The definition of murder is straight forward and the intention to kill must be proven,” he said. “Looking at the incident which took place it is difficult to get a conviction for murder or to say the death of Williams was intentional.”
He continued: “I have respect for the police and I must say they have handled the situation very professional, however, I feel it is because of political pressure, and certain persons feeling they can get political mileage by having the soldier arrested and charged was why the charge came about. But in all fairness the truth will prevail. I feel sorry for what has happen and for the family of the late Clyde Williams.”
Percival said the incident occurred when Richards was shot by “cowards” when his back was turned.
He said that Richards was on his way to work that same night of the incident and stopped to watch a game of dominoes as he waited for a bus.
While standing there he was shot at four times.
“Four shots were fired after him, he did not trouble anyone that night, he did not go looking for trouble persons took the opportunity to shoot at him,” he said.
Percival strongly believes that the perpetrators who shot at Richards were those retaliating from the numerous times they were involved in “stop and search”.
He said that a certain group of individuals from Old Road have firearms in their possession and ‘practice’ their shooting skills in a certain area in Old Road.
“Many residents have been complaining about this and so the security forces decided to carry out several stop and search in Old Road.”
“Now seeing that the many stop and search will interfere with their plans they want to target Richards, because he is from down there and he is in the Force, they feel he is the one who is causing the searches,” Percival said.
The Major said that Richards had made several reports to the Old Road Police station after threats were made against him.
He said that up to one week before the incident in Old Road there was another incident where he instructed the soldier to make a report at the Basseterre Police station.
“So when people are talking about the soldier should be charged and he was trigger happy, he was defending himself, these criminals could have even shot the others who were playing dominoes, the soldier opened fire after he was shot at,” Percival said.
“We the Security Forces will continue to execute our duties in accordance with the law, we will not let these criminals run 'amok' in this land, already we have too many police officers who has lost their lives and one soldier who is presently crippled as a result of criminals.”
Percival said that he usually tell his men that when they go out to execute their duty to do so in accordance with the law.
“They can’t just go out and do anyone anything as they feel like, and I know a lot of criminals are rejoicing now but this will not deter security forces from supporting law abiding citizens. And we will continue to put pressure on these criminals.”
Richards was charged with murder by the police last week.
