A licensed firearm holder cried in court on Monday as he was arraigned on a murder charge over the shooting death on Jan. 2, 2025, of a Fountain resident.
Eros Cain, 63, of Glen, appeared before Senior Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown.
He was read a charge that on Jan. 2, at Glen, he murdered Andrew Williams, 41, of Fountain.
Williams died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital around 8 p.m. on Thursday, about two hours after a vehicle dropped him off there.
Initial reports were that the driver of the vehicle told hospital staff that he had given Williams a ride but did not explain where he had given Williams the lift.
Police said that Williams sustained two gunshot wounds to the right side of his torso and died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of gunshot injuries.
His death is listed as the second of two homicides in St. Vincent and the Grenadines this year.
Cain was not allowed to plead at that stage to the indictable charge and bail was not open to him.
His lawyer, Grant Connel, informed the court that he would prefer a preliminary inquiry rather than a paper commitment.
This means that witnesses would come to court and give evidence rather than the lawyer, prosecutor and magistrate going through the written statement and then the magistrate deciding if there is enough evidence to send the case to the High Court for a trial.
The lawyer also asked the magistrate for an indication from the investigator, detective Inspector Ashlyn Samuel-Bristol, regarding the number of witnesses.
Connell said his information was that the investigator had identified five witnesses so far.
He said there were certain issues arising in the case that he would like to have properly ventilated.
“Not every act that results in the death of someone else is murder,” he told the court.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Crown Counsel Cornelius Tittle informed the court that Samuel-Bristol had indicated that she would need about four months “to finalise investigative matters, including statements”.
“I think that is quite a stretch,” the prosecutor said and the magistrate said he would not entertain that.
The case was adjourned to Feb. 3 for an update on the investigation.
So sad my 2 friends
So sad my 2 friends
So sad indeed 😢
There is a a worrying trend here where individuals with licensed fire arms are involved in the killing or murder of others. The conviction of the person who killed the nurse at the St Martin’s high School is a reminder. The lawyer in the case said that there would be an appeal to the higher court. Has this happened or just pure rhetoric? There was also the case of the Jarvis killing.
This begs the question as to whether or not our license guns laws need to be overhauled. There are too many incidence of license firearms being used in the commission of crimes.The handing out of a firearm license, is it politically motivated base on who you know? You be the judge.
This is a serious indictment of our police force. They’re issuing gun licenses without due diligence. I was told if I had good connections in the police force,I could get a gun license. This seems to be similar to some people getting a driver’s license through connections. I smell a hint of corruption in the air. What’s our security minister saying?
Ms. Pringle, a firearms license is not issued by the police force, there is a specific board in place responsible for such matters.
Ronny the question that was whether or not the privilege of obtaining a fire arm license is politically motivated or based on who you are friends with on the board that is responsible for granting such license. If you do not have the relevant connection. Would your chances be minimized in obtaining a fire arms license ?Does the system in need of overhauled?