By Suelika N. Buchanan
Editor-SKNVibes.com
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| Nigel Langley Sweeney |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts) Minister of National Security, Dwyer Astaphan and high ranking police officials called a press meeting with members of the media to discuss the recent killings.
Sergeant Clive Benjamin and repeat offender Nigel Langley Sweeney both lost their lives on Sunday October 1.
Sweeney had been a fugitive since August 31, 2006 where he escaped from custody after being charged with a Nevis Burglary and other offences.
Police officers from the Frigate Bay Station responded to a telephone call that a break-in was in progress at Golf View Apartments, Frigate Bay at around 5:25 a.m.
Benjamin and Constable Keith Pemberton responded immediately and went to the scene at a private residence in Frigate Bay.
It was stated in a previous press release that Sweeney shot at both police officers and at a Frigate Bay resident, Paget Terry Isaac.
According to the release, Sweeney shot Sergeant Benjamin a number of times, and Isaac once. The Police Officers also shot at Sweeney where he died at the scene of the incident.
Benjamin succumbed to his injuries later that morning at the J. N. France General Hospital, while, Isaac remains in the hospital in a stable condition. Constable Pemberton has been seen and discharged.
The death of the police officer prompted many call-ins from the people of the Federation to the local radio stations expressing their views on the incident. During their Sunday messages Pastors of local churches expressed their displeasure in the criminal act and commended Benjamin for being a brave police officer.
At the press meeting with the police officials Acting Commissioner of Police, Meredith Charles read out to the press the press release that was issued on the incident.
Several questions were raised by the media including if Sweeney was armed.
Charles responded by saying that there was a struggle between Langley and Pemberton where it appeared the gun, the police was holding went off.
He was also asked about bullet proof vests to which he said they are made available to the officers but are not mandatory.
Charles said that the incident was unfortunate and that one should always learn from mistakes and encourages all officers to wear bullet proof vests to prevent any misfortunes.
Astaphan expressed condolences to the Police Force and the family of Benjamin along with expressing appreciation on behalf of the nation and government for the 20 years of service within the force to the country.
Nigel Langley Sweeney is said to be a repeat offender where he his first offence was committed at age 14.
For his first offence he was found guilty of being found in enclosed premises where he was sentenced to a few strokes.
~~Adz:Right~~His second offence was a break-in offence and was committed in 1979 and has since been committing a number of break-in offences.
In August 1996 he committed his first drug offence and committed a second drug offence in 1997.
He had also escaped legal confinement in 1997 and when found spent some six months imprisonment.
Sweeney is said to be the kind of offender who when he breaks-in the homes of people bakes and drinks alcohol found in the home.
SKNVibes.com sadly extends condolences to the family of the late Sergeant Clive Benjamin.
