Four charged for cop’s murder

A 14-year-old student is among four young men who have been arrested and charged for the murder of a police officer. {{more}}

The student, along with Luther Badnock, 20 years, of Dasent Cottage; Randy Shallow, 18 years, of Lowmans Hill and Earl Jack, 17 years of Redemption Sharpes are accused of killing 41- year-old Elson Richardson of Barrouallie on November 14th.

When they appeared before the Serious Offences Court last Friday afternoon, the court prosecutor, Sergeant Adolphus Delpesche requested a period of three months before the start of preliminary inquiries, on the ground that police were seeking forensic analysis on some exhibits. He also said that investigators were still searching for two men wanted in connection with the murder.

The accused youngsters were remanded in custody, pending the start of the preliminary inquiries scheduled for February 21, 2005.

Outside the court, a female family member of one of the accused threw herself on the ground, rolled on the warm street and cried.

“If the lawyer even charge fifteen thousand dollars, ah go empty me bank book”, she bawled.

Another woman nearby held her head and cried, “Oh God, look wha’ he gone go geh he self in following bad company. Is bad company mek he geh he self in trouble.”

One of two young women passing in the area said, “He too young fuh do that. He ain’t do nothing. They stick him up and tell him get in the car.”

Richardson’s body, with wounds to the head, was found at Belle Vue on the Windward side of the island last Sunday morning. His burnt car was discovered that day in the area of Clare Valley on the Leeward side of the island.