By L.K. Hewlett
St. Kitts Reporter
The arrest of Lewis Richards just over two weeks ago is being described by some as a ‘sham’ and a ‘political power play’.
Richards was arrested and charged with the Aug 3 shooting of Clyde Williams. He was also charged with unlawful wounding for shooting another man in the foot that same evening, however no charges have been brought against the defence force soldier for the shooting of a third person who sustained a gunshot wound to the hand.
After being held in police custody at the Cayon Police Station, Lewis went before the magistrate last Wednesday and was remanded to custody at the Basseterre Police Station. Persons called in to radio talk shows claiming that the soldier was receiving special treatment, and had been allowed to stay at Camp Springfield at the defence force base.
The Observer spoke to Major Leroy Percival, head of operations at the agency, who said that people were trying to cause mischief by spreading lies.
“Richards was not at the camp after he had been arrested. The police came and took him away…he never returned. He was held here under ‘open arrest’ after the shooting incident, meaning he could not leave the compound and he was not assigned to any duty detail. When he had to go to the hospital to treat his wounds, he was escorted to and from the hospital by soldiers. People are purposely trying to distort the facts to suit their own political agendas,” Percival said.
The facts of the case are still a matter of dispute as some persons claimed the soldier was seen drinking beer, but certain defence force personnel claim Lewis was not ‘liming or drinking’, he was waiting to catch a bus to report to duty at the camp.
Sources in the know have revealed that six spent ammunition shells were recovered at the scene, two reportedly from the soldier’s service weapon and four from the assailant who opened fire and wounded the soldier in his buttocks. The slug that pierced Williams’ abdomen and exited through his back has reportedly not been found.
Police have not released details concerning any forensic evidence that may have been collected on Old Road’s main street where the shooting took place.
Some fear that lack of evidence may result in the murder case being dismissed at the preliminary inquiry stage while others speculate that if the matter goes before a jury, persons would have a difficult time convicting the law enforcement officer of murder.
“To me that whole thing about charging him with murder is a fraud. They just did that because so many people were calling for something to be done. Why would it take so long to charge him when the shooting took place in front of a crowd of people?” one concerned citizen said.
The family of the late Clyde Williams says they are still forging ahead with their legal action against Richards. One member said although they were ‘happy’ that charges had been filed against the man they alleged shot the father of four as he stood innocently by, they feel it was too long in coming.
The relative told The Observer that it was being said that no one had given any official statement to the police regarding what they witnessed that fateful night, but that the family knew for a fact that more than one person had given eyewitness testimony to authorities.
Richards is being represented by an attorney of the Hamilton and Company law firm and may go before a judge in upcoming weeks to make a request for bail.
