Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brumell on Friday assured that investigators are still working to bring those responsible for the brutal murder of two Kato-based policemen to justice.
“I want it to be known that that has not been swept under the mat. We are doing investigations and when the perpetrators are caught, they would be brought to justice,” Brumell told those gathered for a donation of an ATV and satellite phones for use by police in the ‘E and F’ (interior) Division.
Brumell was making reference to constables Marlon Letlow and Leadon Aaron, who were found shot to death in mid-October. Aaron was also tied to a tree trunk and burnt.
Asked about the investigation, Brumell told Stabroek News that investigators are getting information and that is what they are working with. He did not elaborate on what sort of information was received.
The police have come under criticism for being unable to solve the murders of two of their own. Relatives of the men had previously told this newspaper that no information was being released to them about the circumstances of the murder.
Security sources had pointed out that the manner in which the ranks were killed speaks for itself.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told this newspaper early last month that investigators were able to confirm that the duo had taken money from an excavator operator. “It has been confirmed that they demanded money ($300, 000) from a miner who owns an excavator,” he said, noting that operator is Brazilian and his son was among those held for questioning. Until now, the police have been unable to find him or account for the money that was handed over to the two ranks.
Based on what Persaud had said, the two ranks went to the miner and told him that his machinery was breaking up the roadway and subsequently demanded money from him.
The roadway, he said is located somewhere in the Paramakatoi area, where the ranks were later found dead.
The two ranks had left the Kato Police Station, in Region Eight on an ATV on patrol duties on October 14 and never returned. Two days later police received information that an upturned ATV with its headlamps on was found at Paramakatoi. It had apparently been spotted by a Brazilian man who was passing through the area. The man also spotted blood on the vehicle but saw no one.
Some time on the following day, the bloodied bodies of the two men were found in the general area. Letlow, 27, was found lying face down with gunshot wounds to his back while Aaron, 25, was found tied to a still smoking tree trunk a short distance away.
Aaron had been stationed in the interior area for just over two years, while Letlow had been there for six weeks.
Police had said in a press release, “The service Carbine that had been uplifted by Constable Marlon Letlow was recovered along with eight rounds and eight spent shells. The .38 service revolver that had been uplifted by Constable Leadon Aaron has not been found.”
The release added that one spent 12-gauge shotgun cartridge had been found at the scene, and the force‘s ATV had been recovered.
The police had said that Letlow was reinstated in the force on August 6 this year after he had been interdicted from duty after being charged following investigations into the robbery and murder of two gold miners at Bartica on September 5, 2010. The matter was dismissed by the court on May 15, this year.
