BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN just a matter of two days, the homicide rate in St. Kitts and Nevis has climbed to the astronomical figure of 25, with the most recent being a 31-year-old Newtown resident whose body was discovered tonight (Aug. 15) with a bullet wound to the head.
The dead man, whose name was given as Everad ‘Nitty’ Hewlett, was shot early this morning in his Mad House Alley, Newtown home.
According to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Inspector Franklyn Belgrove, at about 6:30 p.m., officers at the Basseterre Police Station received a report that the body of a man was discovered in Newtown.
“On arrival, investigations revealed that the dead man was Hewlett, whose body was found lying in the bathroom of the upper apartment of a three-storey building in Mad House Alley.
“Preliminary investigations also revealed that the body bore what appeared to be gunshot injuries to the head and lower abdomen as well as signs of rigor mortis, which indicated that he was dead for approximately 12 hours,” Belgrove said.
The Inspector noted that the door to Hewlett’s apartment was locked, but a window was open and police took a number of items of evidential value into custody for further analysis.
This media house however learnt that the body was discovered by his landlord and some of his friends; one of whom had entered his apartment through that window.
Inspector Belgrove explained that at approximately 7:30 this morning, police had received reports of a shooting incident in Newtown and officers had responded immediately, but they were unaware that someone had died because no one had volunteered any information.
He noted that the body was removed from the scene by Jenkins Funeral Home under police escort after the District Medical Officer, Dr. Mervyn Laws, pronounced him dead.
The 24th homicide occurred last night in Lower Cayon with the shooting death of 29-year-old Karando ‘Kasper’ Otto of Warner Street.
He too was shot in the head while returning home from a football game in the company of Deshawn Williams (27) and Patnell Isaac (24), who were shot in the right leg and left ankle respectively.
Twenty-seven-year-old David ‘Dibaloo’ Thomas was the 23rd homicide victim.
He was gunned down at approximately 1:30 yesterday morning not far from his Buckley’s Estate home that he shared with his grandfather.
Inspector Belgrove declared that no suspects have so far been held in connection with these incidents and that the police are appealing to members of the public who may have information relative to the crimes to call telephone numbers 911 or 466 9279 ext. 246.
He noted that information could be given anonymously and would be held in strict confidence.
