Murder Suspects May be Released Without Charge
The Bermuda Police stated that the Good Friday murder suspects may walk free if they do not receive co-operation, saying “without witness testimony combined with some forensic evidence, the persons in custody will be released from custody without charge.”
They state they are ”not receiving much assistance and the response of witnesses is poor” in relation to the brazen daylight murder of Kimwandae Walker on Good Friday at the Victor Scott school field. In a crime that has shocked Bermudians, Mr Walker was murdered right in front of his two young children.
The statement says “currently there are three men in police custody for this matter“, which we understand to mean a total of four men have been arrested. The police had announced two arrests in the case, and stated one man had been released on police bail.
The police examining the scene immediately following the murder
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The full statement from the Police follows below:
Shortly after 2pm on Good Friday (2nd April 2010) two men on a motorcycle rode onto Victor Scott School Field and targeted 35 year old Kimwandae Walker of Pembroke Parish, shooting him multiple times while he was in attendance at a Good Friday fun day. Good Friday was a clear sunny day and there was nothing obvious in place to obstruct the views of the 30, 40 or 50 persons present.
However, despite the outrage within the community of yet another shooting murder of a young man in the prime of his life, which occurred in daylight hours in full view of 30 – 50 men, women and children, police are not receiving much assistance and the response of witnesses is poor.
Police do not operate in a vacuum; and without witness testimony combined with some forensic evidence, the persons in custody will be released from custody without charge.
As I stated previously, often when there are multiple persons in attendance at a particular location/event when one of these tragic shooting incidents occurs, individuals assume that police investigators are aware of all the facts because other witnesses present may have informed police. As a result they adopt a position known as diffusion of responsibility which leads to critical information not being received and within the current climate of firearms violence this will not only create more danger, but the additional risk of cases not being resolved.
There is a heightened level of fear circulating within the Bermuda community because of the recent number of firearms incidents which is understandable, but to continuously remain silent places us all in far more danger.
Currently there are three men in police custody for this matter
Police are making an impassioned plea to all persons present to provide descriptions of the 2 persons on the motor cycle, whether it be skin complexion, build, age, clothing, type of face wear, helmet in addition to the bike color, type etc.
Police are also seeking some information on the movements of the suspects when they entered the school grounds and targeted Mr. Walker. Any photographs or video footage will also be of assistance.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Serious Crime Unit at 299-8115 or the Confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-Tips (8477).
I have studied a person’s ability to give eye witness testimonies and understand that memory deteriorates and get mixed with other memories as time goes on. It is plausible that people may be afraid to give an incorrect witness testimony, hence the lack of support. HOWEVER, I strongly believe that this is not the case.
With all the people at that field, somebody saw something. From here on in, Bermudians have no right to complain about any further shootings or actions taken by the authorities based on the people’s actions in relation to this case (and others).