Solving of homicides at all-time high as… Cops crack 83 percent of reported murder cases for year

May 15, 2017 News

Crime Chief Blanhum

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

Continuing an impressive trend from last year, the Guyana Police Force has solved most of the murders that have occurred so far in 2017.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum released statistics yesterday which revealed that investigators ‘closed’ a whopping 83 percent of the murders that occurred between January and May 12 of this year.

Blanhum noted that homicide is one of the Force’s top investigative priorities from among the 11 categories of serious crimes.

“For the period January 1 to May 12, 2017, unfortunately and tragically, 41 persons were victims of homicide, as compared to 55 for the same period in 2016. Comparatively, this translates to a 25 percent reduction, or 14 less victims for this year, when compared to the previous year, 2016.

“Further, the statistics indicate a clearance rate for homicides for the year 2017 is at an all-time high which is 83 percent. This means that 83 percent of the murder reports received for the year 2017 were solved by the GPF. These figures represent a significant accomplishment for the GPF in achieving its mandate to detect crime,” the Crime Chief added.

However, Blanhum acknowledged that “the reality is that these figures are no comfort to the victims who have lost their lives and the families of the victims who lost a loved one.”

“Nevertheless, we are cognizant of our duty and obligation to investigate all reported cases of homicide with a view to ascertaining the facts of what exactly transpired during these incidents of unlawful acts perpetrated by both ruthless and violent criminals and also through interpersonal violence. The GPF has a duty to provide answers to the grieving relatives and to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested, charged and placed before the Court.”

“The GPF will continue to rely on the public for their support to effectively prevent and detect crime, since we could not have achieved many of our past accomplishments exclusively.”

Detectives literally had to dig deep to solve two gruesome murders. In late March, police unearthed the remains of 39-year-old housewife, Lilwantie Balack, from a grave in the family’s backyard, some eight months after she had vanished.

Her husband was subsequently charged.

Then there was the case of the farmer who allegedly shot his cousin, Arnold Gordon, 24, and buried him in an area known as Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi last March. The suspect went into hiding but was subsequently apprehended and charged.

Last week, police released crime statistics which showed that the Force recorded a 34 percent drop in murders and an overall four percent decrease in serious crimes for April, in comparison with the same period last year.

The statistics also showed that there was a five percent decrease in robberies with no instruments used; a one percent decrease in robberies in which firearms were used; a one percent decrease in rape (99 up to last April in contrast in 100 in 2016); a four percent decrease in burglary; an 18 percent decrease in break and enter and larceny; a 63 percent increase in larceny from the person; a 22 percent increase in robbery with aggravation; a 95 percent increase in robbery with violence and a five percent increase in Robbery under Arms where instruments other than firearms were used.

The statistics show that there were 35 reported murders at the end of April, while there were 53 homicides during the same period in 2016. Of the homicides, 20 were of the disorderly type, four domestic, five committed during robberies, three were execution-type killings, and 22 in which the motive was unknown.

There were also 196 robberies in which firearms were used, in contrast to 197 in 2016. But it was not all good news, since there 117 robberies in which instruments other than firearms were used, in contrast to 111 in April 2016.

There were also 29 reports of robbery with violence, in contrast to 57 up to last April.

Between last January and April, Police also seized 45 unlicensed firearms, in contrast to 23 between January and April 2016. They included 22 pistols, six revolvers, nine shotguns and eight rifles.

‘A’ and ‘F’ Divisions had the most seizures (16 each, ‘C’ Division six, ‘B’ Division four and ‘D’ Division three.

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