No major breaks in two high profile murders.
Fifty-four murders have been committed since the first of the year and while police have chalked up some success in solving many of the killings, the perpetrators in two of 2007’s most high profile homicides remain undiscovered and unpunished. We asked Eastern Division Deputy Commander Chester Williams for an update on the deaths of businessman Richard Hoare and journalist Richard Hulse.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams, Deputy Commander, eastern Division
“In relation to the murder of Mr. Richard Hoare, the police are still investigating that matter. We detained a suspect recently; that person was kept in custody for quite a number of hours. The investigators did not get any headway in terms of the investigation. We are still looking at other people who we need to bring in for interviews and see if we can get something more tangible that we can go with.”
“Because of the way the incident occurred, we do not have any evidence to suggest that anyone may have wanted him dead and based on how it occurred, we are almost certain that he was murdered by someone he knew well and those are the things that create a bit of difficulty for us and at this time—you know, there is a saying where they say that the street will talk—the street is talking but the information coming from the street in relation to that investigation is not coming the way we want it to come. We, as I mentioned before, are looking for some people that we really want to interview but we do not want to bring them in and interview them without the necessary information we need. That will give us the angle of questions we need to put to them.”
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Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“That investigation is not closed. It still remains open. Whenever we receive leads we ensure to follow on them, so I will still appeal to people. If you have any information you believe could assist the police in those two major investigations.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“No information has been coming forward?”
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“In terms of Mr.Hulse, no information again. We have suspects, but having suspects without the necessary evidence is of no use. We need people to come forward and give statements as to what they may have seen on the night in question and that will be able to assist us to effect an arrest. So, yes, having a suspect is good, but without the necessary information in terms of documentary evidence then we cannot go anywhere.”
Police say what also makes both cases difficult is that they still do not know why Richard Hulse and Richard Hoare were killed. In related news, authorities have released the identity of the man they believed chopped one man to death and seriously injured another over the weekend in the Stann Creek Valley. He is Juan Vasquez, a resident of Armenia Village. If you have any information that can help the police to solve these homicides please call the nearest police station or Crime Stoppers at 0-800-922-8477.
