Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said yesterday that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on reports that one of the men killed by police in Freeport on Tuesday was a suspect in the Dana Seetahal murder investigation.Williams, in an interview with i95.5 fm yesterday, would only say the investigation was ongoing.
"I can give the public the assurance the Police Service continues to vigorously pursue the investigation with the clear intention to bring before the courts persons who are responsible for the commission of the crime," said Williams.This newspaper reported yesterday that David "Junior" Baker, 28, was identified by police investigators involved in Seetahal's murder probe as the man who shot the Senior Counsel five times, at close range, with a pistol, on May 4, along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook.
Police officers involved in the investigation said Baker's death would not have a serious impact on their investigations.The story generated scepticism from many readers on social media sites with the majority commenting that it was all too convenient to pin the blame on the dead man.National Security Minister Gary Griffith said he had no official report from the acting Commissioner of Police that the person identified in a Guardian report was the hitman in Seetahal's murder or was a person of interest in the case.
"I have not been updated. I will not make any statement pertaining to any matter under investigation," said Griffith."Even if it is true, I do not feel it is appropriate to make any statement."Baker, his nephew Kareem Edwards, 19, and friend Reuben Richins, 23, all of Petra Crescent, La Horquetta, were killed when police officers assigned to the North Eastern Task Force raided a rented apartment at Kurban Ali Drive, Calcutta #2, Freeport.
Police said Baker had moved into the apartment days after Seetahal's murder with his girlfriend, one-year-old child and nephew.