BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – POLICE are reporting that the man who was killed early this morning (Jan. 22) was an alleged perpetrator of a domestic dispute situation, who picked up his wife with claims to kill her and ended up losing his life while attacking a detective.
As understood, the couple had been together for some 12 years. They were married but was estranged.
Reportedly, the wife took out a restraining order against her husband in November 2012.
At 11:00 a.m. today, Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn held a press briefing in his office at the Police Headquarters on Lozack Road and provided the media with details of the incident.
The Commissioner said that the deceased was identified as Winston C. Browne, who was believed to have been a resident of Taylor’s Range.
COP Walywn told media workers about a “domestic violence situation that turned deadly for the alleged perpetrator of the incident. He died at the hands of the police while he was attacking an police officer”.
In relating the details of the incident, the Commissioner said: “We received a call this morning about 7:45 a.m. about a man who had picked up his wife (in) claiming that he was going to kill her. The Special Forces were mounted very quickly because there was a restraining order in place for this couple from November last year. We immediately began searching the area looking for the couple. The car was found in a secluded area and while patrolling on foot and searching for the couple, they were encountered by the police. The police identified themselves to the couple as police officers and, at that time, the male showed the police a knife and an ice pick and told them to stay back.”
According to COP Walwyn, “The police stayed back. He placed the knife at the throat of the female and in stepping back he also stepped backwards from the police.
“I believe a family member was present at the time when this occurred. After much coaxing, the police fired a few warning shots. He released his spouse but not before cutting her in the face area with the knife. At that point, according to our reports, he took a family member hostage. He was again coaxed by the police into releasing the family member.
“He told the police to kill him; he didn’t want to live…they need to kill him. They refused to. He released the family member and lunged after Detective Watts of CID who was present. He stabbed the Detective in the right lower thigh area above the knee. As Detective Watts was limping backwards trying to get away from the attacker, he lunged at a rapid rate at the Detective with the weapons in his hands still at that time. Because the Detective was already injured and because the Detective was in fear of his life, the Detective discharged his service revolver in the direction of the assailant and he fell to the ground.”
COP Walwyn stated that the Emergency Medical Services was contacted and Detective Watts was rushed to the hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries.
He further stated that Browne’s wife was also being treated at the hospital.
During the question and answer segment, Commissioner Walwyn disclosed that the family member taken hostage was believed to be Browne’s sister, but could it not have been confirmed or denied at the time.
Additionally, he did not have information on whether that family member was with the couple or had followed them to the scene.
Also, he did not have “specifics” from where the wife was allegedly picked up, but he revealed that “we got the information from a family member”.
When asked why a certain family member was not allowed to identify the Browne’s body, COP Walwyn responded: “This is a crime scene. There is going to be another chance when they can identify the family member. Again, based on what I was told, his sister was there so they know who it is, but you can’t have people trampling on a crime scene.”
COP Walwyn lashed out against domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is very serious. We treat it very serious here in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. Since I’ve been here we’ve created a Special Victims Unit. At the present time, the Special Victim Unit is with the wife at the hospital finishing up the investigations.”
He appealed to everybody to “please do not get involved in domestic violence. If you’re in a situation where you believe the relationship is not going to work, please either walk away from the relationship or get some counselling’.
He cautioned wrong doers against attacking police officers.
“This didn’t have to happen today. The attacker created the situation. He chose today to die by attacking the police. The police are not going to stand by and be injured with machetes, knives, guns or anything and not respond. So, I’m asking you, please don’t attack the police. We are not going to stand by and let you injure us.
He also sent out a message to the victim and her family.
“Again, to the family of the victim of the female, we pray that everything works for her and if she needs some counselling there are counselling centres here in the Federation that she can get some assistance from if she needs it. Please take advantage of this.”
In his explanation for having the press briefing, the Commissioner said: “The reason why I had this today is because a police officer was injured and I also wanted to bring attention to domestic violence. I have two pet peeves. One is I don’t like people who molest children. I’ve never been molested but I hate it. And the second thing is I don’t like men who beat women…period.”
COP Walwyn declared that “this is a clear cut case today of self defense on behalf of the police officer”.
He also indicated during comments made that “the police did everything they could do to avoid this man being killed, but, as Mr. Henry so eloquently asked, ‘Was it possibly a suicide mission?’ And I believed it was, because of some of the statements he made.
