BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST 10 days after his acquittal on a murder charge, Bernard Berry (21) was killed this morning (Dec. 14) by a group of gunmen in Gillard Meadows, situated in St. Peters just behind the Air Traffic Control tower.
Information reaching SKNVibes states that sometime after 1:00 this morning a large number of gunmen broke the kitchen’s door of the house in which Berry was asleep, barged into the master bedroom and shot him multiple times to the body, including one of his eyes.
This media house also learned that after the gunmen broke into the house, Berry was aroused from his slumber and sought to hide in a wardrobe but was detected by his assailants who fired more than 20 shots, which signalled their intention to make sure he did not survive the onslaught.
His body was discovered by police lying in a pool of blood within the wardrobe and was subsequently removed from the residence by Jenkins Funeral Home.
On the morning of Friday, December 4, Berry and Denzil ‘Para’ Williams appeared before Her Ladyship Josephine Mellalieu-Webbe at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court, charged with the March 2, 2009 murder of Collin ‘Izum’ Matthew.
After some nine months of incarceration at Her Majesty’s Prison, the two men were freed after their counsels (Chesley Hamilton for Williams and Hesketh Benjamin for Berry) made no case submissions, citing that there was no evidence to tie their clients to the crime.
Director of Public Prosecutions Paulina Hendrickson was asked to give her input, following which Chief Magistrate Mellalieu-Webbe handed down her ruling. And in accordance with the submissions, Her Worship ruled that there was not enough evidence to commit the two young men to stand trial at the High Court level.
Shortly after their release, SKNVibes sought a comment from the two men and Williams said, “I was locked up wrongfully!” while Berry expressed, “I am just glad I am a free man.”
Bernard Berry’s death has taken the count to 27 homicides committed in the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for the year.
This media house had contacted the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Vaughan Henderson, for a comment, but was told that he had to confer with his superiors before any information could be released.
SKNVibes however understands that investigations are ongoing.
