Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4679/-1/140/
|
Police Report On Arrest In Shooting Death, Other Gun And Robbery Incidents
|
In their now weekly press briefings Deputy Commissioner of Police, Illidge Richardson, and Superintendent, Rudolph Proctor, reported on Wednesday, May 2nd, on various criminal matters which have spread alarm in the Anguillian community.
|
|
L-R: Deputy Commissioner Richarson and Supt. Proctor
|
The press was told that after two months of inquiry, the Royal Anguilla Police Force Criminal Investigation Team arrested and charged 77-year-old Abraham Harrigan, owner and proprietor of Hideaway Grocery at Little Dix, for the murder of Elaine Phillips, 52, of Shoal Bay. His arrest came on Monday, April 30.
Harrigan, who was formally charged on Wednesday, May 2, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in the afternoon and was remanded in Her Majesty’s Prison.
Elaine Phillips was shot and killed inside the grocery store on the evening of February 15, 2007.
Superintendent Proctor said that during the course of the investigations various exhibits were submitted to the forensic laboratory in Jamaica for examination. He pointed out that based on information gathered by the police and the results from the forensic laboratory they were in a position to make the arrest in the matter.
The Superintendent commended the young officers under his command for what he described as good police work on the night of the incident which helped to move the case forward. The police is appealing to the public for any information relating to any of the ongoing murder investigations and other crimes committed on the island.
In a separate incident, the police arrested and charged Bevington Harrigan of Shoal Bay (Abraham Harrigan’s son) for possession of an illegal hand gun on Monday, April 30. He appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He was granted bail in the sum of EC$50,000 with two sureties to appear in court on June 15.
The Police said they had no information that there was any connection between the firearm and the shooting incident. The gun will be examined by a ballistic expert later to determine its type and manufacture.
In another matter, the police reported that a shooting incident occurred on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue, just down from the University Centre on Monday, April 30, around 7 p.m. following the Fun Day events at the Webster Park.
Decia Goodridge, 17, of Blowing Point, who was a passenger in the front seat of a vehicle driven by Ross Romney, also of Blowing Point, was shot in her right hand. She was treated at the hospital and discharged.
The police reported that an assailant approached the vehicle at the passenger side and opened fire, injuring the victim’s hand. A young man was taken into custody and is assisting the police with their investigations.
Two vehicles were also damaged in the incident as a result of the gunshots, (believed to have been two).
Proctor said there were many persons at the Fun Day activities, with a large number of vehicles parked in the vicinity, and that the shooting could have been a serious incident. He appealed to anyone who may have any information to report the same to the police.
The press was also told that the police have had successes in detecting six recent burglaries committed in five villages: The Quarter, Cauls Bottom, South Hill, Sandy Ground and The Farrington.
The police recovered a quantity of jewellery during their investigations, all of which have been positively identified by the owners of the affected homes.
Charges have been brought against 17-year-old Ossie Hodge of Roaches Hill in relation to the burglaries. He has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison.
Meanwhile, detectives are continuing their inquiries into the serious robbery incidents that occurred in Cul de Sac, Lockrum, Little Harbour and South Hill villages between February and April this year. Exhibits taken from the scenes were sent to Jamaica for forensic examination. The aim is to determine whether certain persons known by the police are responsible for the crimes.