BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONCE again investigators of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), with support from the public, have been successful in the apprehension of suspects in the recent murders committed on St. Kitts.
A release from the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Stephen Hector, stated that Inspector Charles Smithen of the Criminal Investigation Department reported that “within the first 24 hours of the murder of Jermaine Browne, formal charges have been laid against a young male of Fort Thomas Road, Basseterre, St. Kitts”.
This publication learnt that the young man was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison this afternoon.
Also, according to informed sources, he is said to be 17 years old but this was not confirmed by the police. However, this information may hold true because the police did not release his name although he was charged with the capital offence.
The release also stated that the Commissioner of Police is pleased with the support given to the force by the general public.
“Commissioner Walwyn has recently ensured through training that the professional levels of service by this agency has improved and endeavours to ensure that officers are effective and efficient when called out in all serious crimes, as it is imperative of us that the safety and security is maintained within the Federation,” Hector said.
He noted that though the force has been successful in detection of two homicides in the past 48 hours, they have developed additional security and safety logistics.
“We therefore ask for your continued cooperation as we continue to ensure that the streets of the Federation are returned to the civic-minded citizens,” the PRO added.
Shortly before 7:00 a.m. today (Apr. 19), Browne was murdered execution-style north of the junction of East Park Range and Park Street in the vicinity of National Housing Corporation.
SKNVibes learnt that the 28-year-old construction worker of Conaree Village was on his way to work when the incident occurred.
He was shot multiple times to body, including the head and lower abdomen.
District Medical Officer Dr. Mervyn Laws, who was summoned to the scene, pronounced him dead and the body was removed by undertakers from Jenkins Funeral Home under police escort.
Browne’s death has taken to seven the number of murders committed in the twin-island Federation for 2012; six on St. Kitts and one on Nevis.
His death follows on the heels of 19-year-old Trevis Henville who was also murdered execution-style shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday (Apr. 17) on Shaw Avenue in McKnight.
However, less than 48 hours after Henville’s death, a collaborative effort between members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Intelligence Units of the RSCNPF, who had mounted surveillance exercises, had arrested and charged Lennox ‘Len’ Gumbs (24) of St. Johnson Village and Randy Taylor (20) of Taylor’s Village with his murder.
