BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE identity of the man, whom this media house had reported was shot somewhere in St. Kitts, was recently revealed and also the part of his anatomy that sustained injuries.
The man’s name was given as Patrick ‘South’ Weekes of Pitcairn Street, Newtown and is said to be either 37 or 38-years-old.
When contacted by SKNVibes on Thursday morning (Sept. 5) to confirm that a man was shot sometime the night before, Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Lyndon David categorically stated that someone was indeed shot but he did not provide details on the incident.
“All I can confirm right now is that someone was shot last night. I am putting some stuff together to send out a press release, the press release should be out by 12:00,” David said.
A press release was disseminated to the media but on Friday (Sept. 6) with limited information.
“Officers of the Violent Crime Unit (VCU) are investigating a shooting incident which occurred on Wednesday 4 September 2013 about 10:45 pm at Pitcairn Street, Basseterre, which left one (1) young male hospitalised.
“Anyone who has information pertaining to this incident is ask to call the VCU at 465-2241 ext. 230, or, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, your information will kept confidential, and remember, you may be eligible to receive a reward,” the release read.
Because of the limited information provided by the police, SKNVibes launched an investigation, which revealed that on the night in question, while Weekes was sitting on his verandah, an unidentified man suddenly appeared at his residence and pointed a gun in his direction.
Instinctively, Weekes tried to take cover but was shot in the mouth.
He is currently warded at the JNF General Hospital and is being offered police protection.
Weekes, who is no stranger to law enforcement officers, was jointly charged with Calvester Herbert in 2003 for murder, attempted murder and having a firearm in possession with intent to endanger life.
They were charged with the shooting death of Gerard Saddler, who was killed on the night of September 4, 2003. It was said that during that same incident Glen Liburd was wounded.
The two men were first tried during the January 2005 Criminal Assizes and the jury could not decide on their innocence or guilt. Thus, they were taken back to Her Majesty’s Prison and during the following Criminal Assizes were retried and convicted on all three counts.
However, in late 2008, the men appealed the conviction and sentence which was heard by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal and were overturned. The Court of Appeal ruled that the duo should be retried soonest.
They were again tried during the May 2009 Criminal Assizes and, yet again, the jury was unable to decide on their innocence or guilt.
After a lengthy debate between the Director of Public Prosecution and defence counsel Dr. Henry Browne, the trial judge, Justice Francis Belle, set them free on Thursday, July 23, 2009.
