Mc Doom miner murder probe…Cops provide false alibi for one suspect, ranks release another found with firearm

Mar 08, 2013 News

– Policeman provides false alibi for one suspect, ranks release another found with firearm

Some corrupt cops are reportedly hindering investigations into the murder of Mc Doom miner Gavin Mc Neil, who was gunned down two Wednesdays ago outside his home.
A senior police official has disclosed that a rank is under investigation for allegedly providing one of the suspects in Mc Neil’s murder with a false alibi, while there are reports of other ranks collecting $500,000 to release the suspected mastermind who was held with a firearm.

Gavin Mc Neil

Kaieteur News understands that shortly after police detained one of the suspects, a rank from the Tactical Services Unit told investigators that he and the suspect were drinking at the time of the murder. However, investigations later revealed that the rank had fabricated the story.
The policeman was placed under close arrest but has since been released, although an investigation into the matter is ongoing.
This newspaper was told that detectives had also arrested a youth, who from information received, appeared to be the mastermind in the murder/robbery. Police had received information that the suspect was seen near Mc Neil’s home on the day that he was slain.
Sources told Kaieteur News that police ranks had arrested the youth, who had an unlicensed firearm in his possession. However, he was reportedly released in exchange for some $500,000.
The youth was also a prime suspect in the murder of 45-year-old Karen Reid-Patterson, who was stabbed to death in her Mc Doom business premises, the Flavor Cool Off Restaurant and Bar, in December 2011. No one was charged.
And officials also say that the key witnesses in Mc Neil’s murder are expressing fear for their safety and are refusing to assist the police.
Earlier this week, Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell had expressed concern about corruption among some of his ranks. He had made the remarks while discussing the alleged beating of civilians at Marudi, the alleged theft of a car by a TSU rank and investigations into the setting up of an illegal roadblock by a group of policemen.
Gavin Mc Neil was shot dead near his gate by robbers who had earlier held the man’s two daughters hostage in an effort to gain entry to the family’s Lot 48 Middle Street, Mc Doom home.
During the 15-minute ordeal, McNeil’s mother-in-law, June Elwin, was badly beaten by the masked bandits and his wife, Melissa McNeal, sustained an injury to her face.
Information suggests that the killers were tipped off that the gold miner had returned from the interior.
According to information, the 38-year-old dredge owner who had operations in Siparuni, Region Eight, had only returned from the interior a few days prior to the attack.
Mc Neil, his two daughters and his mother-in-law had left their home at around 17:00 hrs that day to purchase some Chinese food. Mc Neil’s wife, who had contracted malaria, had remained at home.
When they returned, the girls went to the back of the house, while their father parked his vehicle.
The miner’s mother-in-law said she was going to the back of the house when she heard her granddaughters shouting and then she saw some masked men holding the minors at gun and knifepoint.
“They tell me to open the door before they hurt the kids and their mother, who was inside, and I opened the grill, because I had the keys and then they go in and start beating me and they chop me daughter,” the woman recalled.
The robbers relieved the family of some $1M in cash and jewellery and then shot Mc Neil as they were fleeing.