Crime Chief on political activist’s assassination…“We will go wherever this investigation leads”

Mar 18, 2015 News

---

– experts say investigators must question those who allegedly threatened victim and check their firearms

By Michael Jordan

Crime Chief Leslie James said yesterday that the Guyana Police Force will go “wherever this investigation leads” in its effort to find the killers of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

But it is unclear whether investigators questioned two individuals who had allegedly issued threats to the slain ex-army officer, a process some homicide experts stressed should be a key aspect of the investigation.
The Crime Chief reassured that no stone is being left unturned to find the killers, after being asked to respond to concerns by the slain man’s relatives and others that his shocking murder might be politically motivated and may go unsolved.
“These are the persons’ opinions. They are free to express their views,” the Crime Chief said.
“We have an open mind. Wherever it (the investigation) leads we are going. That’s why we are pleading with anyone with information to come forward. This is a murder investigation. What we need is evidence. Let them make contact with us or send information to us anonymously.”
James’s response came even as he confirmed that police have released two men that they had detained and have no one in custody, as the probe enters its seventh day.
Crum-Ewing’s relatives believe that he was slain because of his relentless anti-government protests. His mother, in particular, has said she has little optimism that the police will apprehend his killers.
Relatives alleged that police failed to act on complaints the former army officer made to them about two threats he received while picketing outside the office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall.
The first threat was reportedly made by an individual, who allegedly drove up to Crum-Ewing and said “Anil ain’t going nowhere, so you better go or else…”
On another occasion, he was reportedly told: “Crum-Ewing, you don’t mean to stop this stupidness?” They said that the protestor had reported these threats to the police and identified one of the individuals, but no action was taken.
Crum-Ewing’s minibus was also vandalized. The outspoken ex-army officer reportedly made one complaint at the Brickdam Police Station and filed another complaint to a rank stationed at the Attorney General’s office.
Responses that Kaieteur News received from two senior police officials suggest that investigators were unaware of these complaints and have therefore not tried to ascertain if they could be linked to Crum-Ewing’s murder.
Some seasoned homicide experts say that it is essential for those on the case to identify the individuals who had threatened Crum-Ewing and to question them.
“Even if this information (the alleged threats) is only in the press, you would want to know if the reports are true, and you would start doing your investigation there. You would question the press (about the reports). That is common sense,” one investigator said.
The investigators, he said, should also try to ascertain the whereabouts of these individuals at the time of the killing.
Also, those on the case should ascertain if the individuals have firearms of a calibre similar to the weapon with which Crum-Ewing was slain and check for a possible match, the sources said.
“You would check his firearm to see if it was recently fired. You would expect them to do these things. If they do not do these things, then you would want to know why,” one source added.
Evidence, such as gunpowder residue could disappear if these leads are not immediately checked on, the source stressed.
And despite Crime Chief James’ assurances, history is not on the side the Guyana Police Force, where crimes of this nature are concerned.
The Force has a dismal record in relation to the solving of ‘high-profile’ homicides, dating back to the still unsolved murders of Monica Reece, Lloyd Bacchus, Herman Sanichar—which occurred in the nineties—to the January 30, 2006, slaying of activist Ronald Waddell; the June 2011 murder of 72-year-old Clementine Parris; the October, 2008 slaying of Environmental Protection Agency official Alicia Foster, who was gunned down outside her Kitty home; the mysterious killing, via explosion, of Guysuco Housing Scheme couple Totaram and Bhagmattie Muthu, and the slaying of Patricia Sanasie.
Crum-Ewing, who is to be laid to rest today, was gunned down two Tuesdays ago in Third Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, reportedly while urging residents, by way of bullhorn, to vote against the ruling party in the upcoming General and Regional Elections.  He was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head, and twice to the stomach.
The killer used a .32 pistol and fired at such close range that gunpowder burns were left on his victim’s clothes and body.
Police had stated that Crum-Ewing was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about his body. However, other reports suggest that there were only two men in the car that transported the shooter. A second car with another two men came up soon after. Police have also received reports that there was a brief verbal confrontation before the gunfire.

---

---