By Steve Thomas

Observer Nevis Editor

(Charlestown, Nevis) – A witness at the scene of an early morning murder this week is unable to offer details of the killing because it was too dark, the shooter’s face was covered and he moved too quickly.

Mr. Kenneth Smithen was gunned down outside his home off Craddock Road at 2:30 a.m. Sept. 23.

Sources close to the investigation said the authorities have questioned several people, but police officials decline to confirm or deny the report.

According to a release from the Royal St. Kitts-Nevis Police, Mr. Smithen, 48, “had just left his home and was walking through an alley leading to Craddock Road where a co-worker was awaiting him to take him to work at the Seaport. As he approached the waiting vehicle, someone opened fire on him, shooting him multiple times about the body. The assailant also fired several shots at the waiting vehicle causing damage to it. The driver escaped unhurt. Smithen was pronounced dead at the scene by the district medical doctor.”

In an interview with The Observer, the driver described what he saw and heard. The driver’s name is being withheld. There was another passenger with the driver.

“We went to pick up the guy,” the driver said. “We heard sounds like electrical wire crashing, like an electrical wire busted. We didn’t realize that it was a gunshot. The other guy asked if (Mr. Smithen) had been shocked. (Mr.) Smithen cried out something like, ‘I got shot.’”

The driver continued:

“We saw the (shooter) run down the street. He was dressed in all black. Didn’t know who he was. I couldn’t recognize who it was. It was dark.

“There were a lot of shots. It was quick. Everything was so quick.

“I didn’t even see who the guy was. I couldn’t recognize him. It was dark. It seemed like he had a mask. A hood over his head.”

After Mr. Smithen cried out, his family came out of the house and found him on the ground, the driver said.

Mr. Smithen was known to many people in the Charlestown area. His sister, Elget Smithen, said her brother stayed out of trouble and used to fish and swim for enjoyment.

“He was friendly. He liked to help people,” she said.

A number of Mr. Smithen’s friends and acquaintances expressed similar views.

“He never hurt nobody. I can’t believe this happened to him,” one said.

At the spot in front of the family’s house where Mr. Smithen’s body was found, his relatives have planted a pink flower in his memory.

The police are appealing to those with any information on this incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Department on Nevis at 469-5254. Information received will be held in strict confidence.

Mr. Smithen is the 16th murder victim of 2008 in the Federation.

Charges have been brought in eight of those cases. Those are:

-Mr. Steve Pemberton, 30, of Ottley’s Village was gunned down in Ottley’s Village late on the night of Aug. 23. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, Delvin Benjamin, 21, of Cabbage Tree Project in Cayon was charged with Mr. Pemberton’s murder.

- Elroy Williams of Crab Hill, Sandy Point, was charged for the murder of Delvis Romney, 23, of Parson’s Village on August 14. Mr. Romney was shot at a bar in Lynches on August 11.

- Lester Tross of New Road and Malvy Drew of Middle Island were charged on July 14 for the murder of Shamari Williams, 23, of New Road. Mr. Williams was shot while driving on July 5. He died on July 6 at the JNF Hospital.

- Jomi Rawlins, 19, Clyde Norford, 25, Nelson Challenger, 18, Shenroy Francis, 18, and a 17 year old juvenile, all of St.Paul’s Village, were charged on April 30 for the murder of Gregory Zakers, whose partially nude body was found at Black Rocks on April 12, 2008.

- Wycliffe Liburd surrendered himself to police and was charged for the murder of Charles “Abaloo” Benjamin, 32, on April 22. Mr. Benjamin was murdered on April 18.

- Bishu Isaac was charged on April 19 for the stabbing death of Tau Gowon, 26, of Delisle Garden, who was killed on April 18.

- Lionel “Shaggy” Warner surrendered himself to police and was officially charged on April 7 for the April 4 murder of Alphonso “Bobo” Richards, 25.

The unsolved cases are:

- About 9:30 p.m. on July 5, Darnel Webster, 18, of Sundown Road was shot multiple times as walked down the road. No one has been charged in the case.

- In the early morning of June 11, police went to Marion Street in Charlestown and found the body of Leon Hendrickson, 29, of St. Kitts, who resides at Stoney Grove, Nevis. He was walking home when he was shot. Police believe the murder was gang related. No one has been arrested in this case.

- Police responded to a report of gunshots being heard in Molineux on Thursday, May 22, at about 8 p.m. On arrival they found Eston Sharry, 23, alias ‘Phat’ of Phillips Road, Molineux, lying on his back in the road. He had multiple wounds to his body and was motionless. The District Medical Doctor visited the scene and pronounced him dead. There have been no arrests in this case

- Police are investigating the May 19 homicide which claimed the life of Chesil Fraites Richardson, 25, of Conaree Village. No one has been arrested in this case.

- A double homicide occurred in mid-March. Mr. Leon Willock, 20, of Dorset Village and Mr. Orlando Williams, 25, of Buckley’s Site were reported missing near noon on March 18. A subsequent search of their last known whereabouts led to the discovery of their bodies about 3 pm. Mr. Willock’s body was found in a marijuana patch and the body of Mr. Williams was found nearby in a ghaut Mr. Williams died as a result of hemorrhage and shock secondary to gun shot to the head. Mr. Willock died as a result of hemorrhage and shock secondary to gun shot to the abdomen. No arrests have been made in these killings.

- On March 11, Mr. Derrick Gumbs Jr, ,was shot about 10:50 p.m. Officers responded to a report of gunshots at Neverson Street, Newtown. They arrived on the scene and found the body of Mr. Gumbs, who had sustained gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made in this case.

- The first killing of 2008 occurred on Nevis. Leon ‘Gravo’ Westerman, 28, of Low Street, Charlestown, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being transported to Alexandra Hospital. Police were called to the scene of the shooting in downtown Charlestown just before midnight, Jan. 28. No arrests have been made in this case