"It's The Public That Solves Murders," Says Detective In Anguilla

Mr. Peter Kennett, the British-born detective leading the investigations into three murders and one disappearance in Anguilla, has assured the people of the island that he will do his very best to resolve the tragic cases.

At the same time, he said it was the public who solved murders. The police asked questions and sought the truth, but without witnesses and the assistance of the public, the job of the police was almost impossible.

The retired Detective Superintendent is on a three-month assignment as Deputy Investigation Officer and advisor to the Royal Anguilla Police Force. In addition to the local officers, he is being assisted for a month by four visiting policemen : Detective Constable Dervent Murray and Detective Jason Hartford of the British Virgin Islands, Detective Sergeant Terrence Maxwell of Bermuda; and Detective Sergeant Nigel Gilkes of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The detectives are investigating the murders of Jamida Webster, who was abducted and killed in the Mount Fortune area, Roger Clarke (Pressure King), who was shot at his residence at Old Ta, Courtney Hodge of East End, who was lured to an abandoned house in the Forest area and shot to death; and Jermaine Alexander (Sky) who mysteriously disappeared in the same Forest area shortly before the shooting there.

Speaking at a press briefing on September 16, Detective Kennett, who arrived in Anguilla from England on September 1, said there had been occasions where the reaction of a small section of the population had been extremely disappointing. “The reluctance of some individuals to come forward and be counted comes as a surprise which in the long term can only bring further problems for Anguilla,” he stated.

He observed however that more that 99 percent of the population were hard-working, honest, friendly and decent-law abiding citizens who wanted the cases solved and the offenders brought to justice.

Mr. Kennett reported that with the help of a team, including an Offender Profiler, many aspects of the crimes, particularly with respect to Jamida’s murder, were clarified.

He appealed to the public to cooperate with the investigators and help them restore peace and tranquillity to the island. Persons wishing to speak directly with him, can call 497-2609.

Mr. Kennett has vast experience in the investigation of murders for many years. His last case was the kidnap and murder of 8-year-old Sarah Payne, which attracted massive publicity in the United Kingdom and world-wide.

Her naked body was found three-weeks after her abduction in a shallow grave. After nine months of investigations, a man was charged and was later convicted.

Detective Kennett said he was honoured to assist Superintendent Rudolph Proctor in the investigations and that he was impressed with the work of the four visiting officers as well as with that of the those from Anguilla.