Last night we told you about the killing of off duty Police Constable Winer Dennis. It was the second unexplained murder story coming out of Belmopan within two days. went West again to find out who could have done it and why.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Today the flag outside of the police headquarters in Belmopan was flown at half mast in memory of twenty five year old police constable Winer Dennis.
Onelda Dennis, Sister of Murdered Brother
“I would just like to ask anyone witness to please come forward and assist the police in anything because it really hurts for a beloved one to be killed and in the way he was killed.”
PC Winer Denis who was off duty at the time had just left his residence on Suriname Street where he resided in the Salvapan area of Belmopan. But as he rode on his bicycle about ten yards past this bakery, near this mango tree on Cemetery Road he was shot by a lone gunman.
Supt. Aaron Guzman, OIC – Belmopan Police Station
“As we understand it, it was around that time that another who may have been on a bicycle also rode up behind him and used a handgun, fired a single shot which caught PC Denis.”
Martha Cocom, Area Resident
“I was washing and I was hanging my blanket at the line when I heard something like popshot and then I didn’t pay no mind because I thought it was a pop shot but when I heard somebody shouting that they shoot him, I got frightened and I looked at the street and that is when I see the boy walking towards the bakery.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Was he holding any part of his body?
Martha Cocom,
“He was going like this, holding like his chest but he was walking like as if it was foot. I didn’t run way to the front.”
But according to Superintendent Guzman although PC Denis had been seriously injured he managed to jump off his bike and run into the bakery. From there, he was rushed to the western regional hospital but he died shortly after.
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
“We note that he had a wound to the left side of his back and a wound to the right side of his chest. After the post mortem we will establish exactly if it is two separate wounds or if one was entry and one was exit. The person
that took him to the hospital says that he was complaining of the pain, so it was mostly pain. When he got to the hospital, followed by the police vehicle immediately, the Corporal was more concerned in getting him into the emergency care, rather than questioning him because initially they could not say where he was shot. We initially thought that he only had an injury to the right upper chest and we found out later that he also had a wound to the left lower back and actually we walked in out of the vehicle that took him to the hospital, holding his chest into the emergency room. Sometime after three, about 10 minutes past three, PC Denis was pronounced dead by the doctor.”
At this time Belmopan police say they do not have a motive, only that at the crime scene they did recover one nine milimeter expended shell. They do know that at least four persons witnessed the shooting. Yet they have received only two statements and the information they have received is not sufficient to make an arrest. And while today school children gathered at the spot where PC Denis was shot, Belmopan Police are disturbed that those who did witness the shooting are not talking.
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
“This is a major problem we are facing. It is obvious that at least four persons saw what happened but the problem we are facing right now is for those persons to give a statement. As you are well aware, hearsay does go to court but there are certain conditions that hearsay evidence is accepted in court. But literally when we speak about hearsay or in Creole terms ‘yerri so,’ that doesn’t go to court. So tips and information only helps to lead the police to make certain inquiries. What would assist us in making an arrest and having a proper case is for witnesses to give accounts of what they may have seen and that is our shortcoming right now.
We have detained one person. That person is in custody but like in most police cases, you are able to detain persons for questioning and that is what we have done with that person so far. But I am saying that in my mind, there are at least three other key persons that can assist us with direct information or direct statements that would basically help us to make an arrest in this case.”
PC Winer Denis who was scheduled to return to work on Saturday resided with his six month pregnant common law wife who was in fear of her own life and declined to be interviewed. The police cannot say if the shooter knew his victim or was a police constable but from all indications it appears to have been intentional.
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
“We are not sure at this stage Jackie and like I said we don’t know the motive but it is obvious it was not robbery because the shooter apparently turned around and rode off. So we are not sure.”
In the past two weeks four police officers have been shot while on active duty and while PC Denis was not working at the time, the question is: are the police concerned that it was another attack against law enforcement?
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
“In this instance where my officer was gunned down, I don’t know if it is mistaken identity and even so it is a cold blooded crime. But for me to speculate and say it is an attack on the Police Department, I wouldn’t say that at this stage because I am not sure of the circumstances of this case.”
Voice of Marilyn Denis, Sister of murdered brother
“I still cannot believe that my brother is dead and that I will never see him again. It is very hard for us, he was the only son. He was the only boy in the family. To me he was a good person so I don’t know why someone would just kill him like that.”
Jose Angel Denis, Father of murdered son
“I feel bad because he was the only son I had. I do not know why anyone would want to kill him. I was not close to my son but we did communicate. I just hope the police do their work to catch the person who killed my son.”
At the time of his murder PC Winer Denis had been with the police force for only nine months.
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
“He worked well, he had the opportunity to work on shift and he also worked temporarily at the Supreme Court because from time to time we do have Supreme Court duties here in Belmopan.”
Martha Cocom,
“To me he was a good person. I know he was good.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So this came as a shock to you?
Martha Cocom,
“Yes because I know him. He is something like cousin, like that because he is like my family so I know him.”
Onelda Denis,
“Today it could be us, well we the family, and tomorrow it could be you. Who knows so maybe that is the only way we can stop crime.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
He was your only brother.
Onelda Denis,
“He was the only brother and three sisters and he was the only one.”
Police do not have anyone detained for the killing.
