It took the police more than two months to release video footage of the suspect in the Debra Blackman murder investigation but while some have criticised the delay, former police Commissioner Winston Felix says that the public ought not to be judgmental as these releases have to be timely.
“Probably the police were doing their own investigative work which did not bring them any results and as a result they found it necessary at this time to release it in full, out of fear that to have done it earlier may have jeopardised the work they were doing,” Felix told Stabroek News recently.
Prior to this release, police had released a still image of the suspect. The picture was released some two weeks after Blackman was shot dead during an apparent robbery at the Chinese restaurant where she worked.
One of Blackman’s children, Shelly Ann, had expressed disappointment at how critical pieces of information were being disseminated in the press. A few days after the murder a still image of the suspect had appeared on an online news site and this immediately raised questions as to why this was done, especially since it could have caused the gunman to go into hiding.
Shelly Ann also voiced concern at the length of time the police took to release the picture. “We think it should have been done a little earlier, just in case the guy was still in town… if they had released it… earlier, we woulda stand a better chance by now,” she said.
When asked if given the nature of the crime whether it would have been best to release the still image and the video earlier, Felix said, “These releases got to be timely if you want to get results.”
Felix, while making reference to a recent case on the East Coast Demerara in which a teenage girl was shot dead by a gunman, said that police would use different approaches when investigating crimes. He said that in the East Coast case, police did not release a whole lot of information. “The police’s handling of this matter brought results. I don’t want to be jumping on the police without knowing… I think they are the best judges of what should be done at what time. We can ask all the questions in the world. As the former Commissioner of Police I can tell you sometimes the information at the police’s disposal is vastly different from what the public has,” he explained.
He said that he would not say that the police were negligent “because I don’t know what the other circumstances are.” Felix pointed out that all would have desired an earlier release but noted that in these circumstances the public ought not to rush to judgment. “The court of public opinion is out there. You can’t interfere with that. The police know what they know and the public judgment is a different issue all together,” he added.
On August 23, the gunman walked into the Delicious Restaurant, located on D’Urban Street, between Hayley and Hardina streets, and shot Blackman. Seconds after the shooting the man was seen walking out of the restaurant and he subsequently jumped onto a CG motorcycle which sped off.
A part of the footage seen by this newspaper showed a young man, dressed in a grey t-shirt, dark-coloured pants and a cap, standing by the counter. Two men subsequently entered and could be seen acting nervously. Though they entered separately, based on the way they were acting it would appear that all three were known to each other. The man in the cap remained standing at the counter and was seen constantly glancing around. Though he was wearing the cap, at several points his face could be clearly seen.
Stabroek News was told that Blackman was shot as she was preparing to hand over food that was ordered. Footage captured from the cameras outside subsequently recorded the
gunman fleeing the scene on a CG motorcycle, this newspaper was also told.
Blackman sustained a single gunshot wound which entered her body through her neck and passed out through her shoulder. She died moments after being shot. Relatives remain convinced that robbery was the motive.
Questions have been raised about whether the shooter may be a foreigner since no one has come forward to identify him although his image has been circulated.
Shelly Ann also questioned why no one seems to know the identity of the shooter, especially since the footage is clear enough for persons who know him to be able to make a positive identification. “I can’t see that a man footage on the internet, in the newspaper and nobody knows this guy. It is strange. He ain’t belong to Guyana?” she had asked.
She had also opined that the police should be looking for the other two men who were seen acting suspiciously in the recorded footage. She said that even if they may not have been involved in the shooting, they may at least be able to provide the police with more information about the physical characteristics of the shooter.
Back in September, Crime Chief Leslie James had told Stabroek News that the police had been receiving some responses in relation to the released photo of the shooter. Each response received, he said, was being followed up.
Anyone who has information about the suspect or who can provide some useful information is asked to contact the police.
