Cops quiet on killing probes

(CNS): Despite handling two murder investigations that occurred within three weeks of each other, both of which appear to have direct connections to the spate of gang-related killings in Grand Cayman in 2011, the acting head of CID is saying very little about the enquiries. There have been no appeals to the public for assistance or descriptions of possible suspects released. Reluctant to say if the two murders are gang-related, DCI Malcolm Kay said that at present there was “nothing to suggest” that the murder of Earl Hart had anything to do with him being a witness in a murder trial last year, when CJ Scott was convicted of the killing of Asher McGraw in East End in September 2011.

Kay said that both of the murder enquiries were ongoing and there were no updates, following questions from the media about the state of the investigations. Kay has also denied any knowledge of Hart receiving threatening calls from inside the prison prior to the fatal shooting at his home last week.

The RCIPS appears to be reluctant to discuss the killings that have occurred during a spate of increased violent, gun-related crime that has stretched from North Side to West Bay. With public concern running high about the number of guns that may have made their way onto the island recently, the crime appears to be continuing, despite significant success in rounding up suspects. On Tuesday police confirmed than at least one shot was fired at a house in George Town sometime between Sunday night and early Monday afternoon.

With the police already stretched to their operational limits over the gun-related robberies and muggings, the murder enquiries have added significantly to that burden.

The first of the two killings this year was on Sunday 15 September in West Bay. Irvin Garlon Bush (52) was returning to his home in Daisy Lane at around 10pm Sunday night when he was shot dead by an unknown gunman or gunmen. Bush was the father of Robert Mackford Bush, who was the first of five victims of gang-related violence in a series of shootings in September 2011 from West Bay to East End.

Then, on Thursday 3 October 22-year-old Earl Hart was shot multiple times at his home in Marina Drive when he opened the door of his home to the gunmen. Aside from stating that they are looking for a dark brown motor car, believed to be a Honda Torneo, the police have said very little about the killing. Hart, who was pronounced dead at around 1:15 Friday morning at the George Town hospital, was a witness against Scott, who was convicted of killing McGraw, the fifth and last victim in the spate of violence that plagued Cayman two years ago.

In between the killing of Robert Mackford Bush and McGraw, Andrew Baptiste and Preston Rivers were also shot and killed in West Bay. Jason Christian was killed on Crewe Road and Keith Montague sustained multiple gunshot injuries but survived. Since then Brian Borden has been charged with Bush's murder and has been on remand at Northward since August last year.

Despite their general silence on the probe, police are asking anyone that may have information on either shooting or was in Daisy Lane or Marina Drive on the nights in question to call the RCIPS tip-line 949-7777, or Crime Stoppers 800-8477(TIPS) or the dedicated murder line 925 7240.