23-year-old Taedron Bennett is tonight wan ted by the police for Sunday morning's double murder of brothers Phillip and Kevin Brannon. Bennett who is now a fugitive was today charged, in absentia, along with Joseph Kee and Ricky Aguilar. All three are facing 12 charges, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, four counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of dangerous harm and two counts of use of deadly means of harm. It is a major development in the ruthless murder and today the police told us why these are the three responsible.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This afternoon Ricky Aguilar and Joseph Kee walked out of the CIB Office in handcuffs. One is a customs broker and the other a businessman and police say both of them murdered the Brannon brothers.
ASP Chester Williams, CIB Commander
"Yesterday Ricky Aguilar and Joseph Kee were both brought in by their attorney and since then they have been in custody. We have interviewed them and we have also interviewed other witnesses and through other witnesses we have managed to gather sufficient evidence in order to levy charges upon Ricky Aguilar and Joseph Kee. Both persons have been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, four counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of use of deadly means of harm. We are still looking for another person in relation to the murder of the Brannon brothers. We are trying to locate one Taedron Bennett and we have issued a warrant in the first instance for his arrest. So now we have sufficient evidence to be able to prepare a warrant for his arrest. So there will be a bulletin including poster with his photograph for the public to see in the event that anyone might have information as to where he may be."
ASP Chester Williams says that search for Bennett is intense and so too is the search for the murder weapons used in the Sunday morning massacre on Albert Street west.
ASP Chester Williams,
"We believe Taedron Bennett is in the country of Belize. We are doing everything we can in order to because him but we have been unsuccessful so far.
The effort will continue to locate him. If he was in plain sight Keith Swift, I would guarantee you I would guarantee you that we would have him here. Up to this morning my officers were out from three o'clock going from every house they believe they could find him and they did not find him. If he was in plain sight, I personally would go for him. He is not out of the country. He is in the country of Belize. I am 100% certain of that.
No we do not have the murder weapon. Ironically Aguilar reported his firearm stolen in a burglary and Kee also reported that his firearm was stolen on Friday. We do not believe those stories and we are also looking at that. We do not believe that. We do not have to have a murder weapon in order to get a murder conviction. The murder weapon would good to have as exhibit yes but in the absence of that there still could be good evidence in order to secure a conviction without the murder weapon."
And while police have made a arrests - there is no clear motive other than.
ASP Cheser Williams,
"I believe that they are stupid. yes to commit it."
Chester Williams wouldn't disclose who they believe pulled the trigger. Police are also still looking for the vehicles used to commit the murder. Kee and Aguilar were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord. No plea was taken and both were remanded to the Hattieville prison until the 16th of June.
Kee is represented by Senior Counsel Ellis Arnold while Aguilar is represented by both Arnold and Michael Peyrefitte. Peyrefitte today told us it is a wait and see for his client.
Michael Peyrefitte,
"The way the system works is that they are charged and because its an indictable matter, then the preliminary inquiry will take place sometime in the distance future; six months to a year from now. At the time, at least fourteen days before the preliminary inquiry, we are going to get what's called the disclosure and only at that time we will know what the police has. Right now it is just a matter of waiting and seeing what will be the process of the prosecution at this point. Nobody knows anything other than they have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and dangerous harm."
Tonight police say they also have the girlfriends of Kee and Aguilar who may charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
