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Two charged with murder of Estella Scott-Roberts
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| Published on Thursday, October 30, 2008 |
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Kirkland Henry
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Larry Ricketts
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By Tad Stoner
tad@caymannetnews.com
Two men, aged 27 and 25, were charged in Summary Court on Thursday in the 10 October murder of Estella Scott-Roberts.
The elder, Kirkland Henry, a gardener living in George Town, and Larry Prinston Ricketts, a carpenter also living in George Town, both Jamaican nationals, were each charged with murder, adduction and robbery. Police laid an additional charge of rape against Mr Henry.
The two appeared at approximately 10:30 am before Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale, who remanded them to Northward Prison with directions that prison officers help them complete applications for legal aid.
“I don’t know who has spoken to them. I will send them to police or other officers to explain and to fill out the forms so they can appoint attorneys,” she said, suggesting John Furniss or Benjamin Tonner as possibilities.
“On charges of this nature, two foreigners charged with serious offences, there is no doubt they are a flight risk,” said Ms Ramsay-Hale. “The evidence is strong, and so I continue remand.”
Speaking for the Crown, Solicitor General Cheryll Richards said the two would be kept in custody, considering “the nature of the serious charges against them and the strength of the evidence”.
She said each defendant had been found in possession of a cellphone, both of which belonged to Mrs Scott-Roberts, and “forensic evidence recovered from Mr Henry and the deceased”.
She also referred to detailed statements from both men, said to have made admissions to police during questioning.
In an earlier statement, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kennett, leading the police probe into the murder, said the event had “rocked the Cayman Islands and sent shock waves through our community.
“Crime cannot only be measured by the acts that take place,’ he said, “but also by the reaction of the community in which they occur. The reaction we have seen since October 11 has been one of shock, disbelief, outrage and disgust. This is a testament to everyone that calls Cayman home.” | | | | Reads : 8659 |
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J. Smith:
Congratulations on Detective Peter Kennett and all RCIP Detectives and uniformed police also the judiciary that caught these two animals and brought them to justice. As far as I'm concerned Caymanian taxpayers’ money should not pay legal aid fees for these two.
This is a strange twist since they are Jamaican nationals and Mrs Scott is a Caymanian. The twist means there has to be some real motive here, that why would two Jamaican nationals kill one of our own in such a heinous manner ? This looks like a contract to kill! Were these two hired by someone to kill Mrs Scott Roberts? She’s a high profile community leader, did she have any conflict or contact with these two prior to the murder? If not, this is a deliberate murder with intent to cover up evidence. It’s not just a rape and robbery/murder case but an "assassination"! Others are behind this! What about the Swiss national Mr Bise that was murdered in the same manner and the murderers used the same venue, abducting Mr Bise from Deckers Restaurant as well! Are these two serial killers? Who else were victims, who sponsored these two to the Cayman Islands, who gave the order for these killings? Police need to know these two should not have access to computers or cell phones as this is a high risk for escape and arranging escape by land, sea, or air; are their travel documents seized? They should be kept in chains and all conversations censored. These two appear to be killer contractors for hire; police now need to know who hired them! |
| S. Smith:
I have been reading about this terrible case since the beginning as I used to live in the Cayman Islands from 2000 to 2003. My friend and I were attacked in August of 2000. We went to the police but no-one was ever caught. It was never mentioned in the press and my friend was cut off the radio when she started to speak about it. When will the island learn that these types of crimes NEED to be made public, despite the imagined threat to the tourism trade? What is more important? The dollar or a life? I dread the answer. |
| Robert Smith:
If these men are found guilty, I say they should be handcuffed, shackled and placed in a car, which should then be doused in gasoline and set ablaze. These men are not a part of the human race. They are some kind of evil animal living in a human body. |
| Mary Dunkerly:
I am glad to see that some persons are being held responsible for their actions, as I was raped and strangled in the Cayman Islands in January of 2000 and the person of high ranking was not investigated and my files eventually disappeared |
| Susan Smith:
My only concern would be the timeline of that night. If she left the restaurant around 1130 and the fire was set around midnight, how could two men grab, rob, kill, now rape, move the car, set the fire and flee the scene? It just seems a bit tight.
Kudos to the RCIP and all involved, I hope that justice is served and all and the right persons are caught. Now only if we had the death penalty, it’s a shame they will sit comfortably behind bars, being fed, TV and never have to work another day and the families are without their loved one. Very sad. |
| Nadine Brown:
This just confirms my worst fear. Another strike against the Jamaicans [and I am one]. I have been following up this story since it was first published and I was hoping and praying that Jamaicans were not the culprits. As a proud Jamaican, I am really saddened by this revelation and my condolence to the Scott family. |
| Winsome J. Fraser Hill:
I am so saddened by the news as I am now In Brooklyn NY and always encouraging people to visit the Cayman Islands, always bragging that we are crime free! But some would ask what are you doing here and I can't respond with a fair answer due to the fact that the system is so unfair. I was and still living there from 1990 and was married for over 13 years and yet upon the decease of my husband Minwell Hill in 2005 I am still not granted not even Status. I have a very clean record not even a speeding ticket, no form of criminal offence but you tell me where all these new faces come from. No one knows their background but they are very much there working. I was living there for over 19 years and now no job, no papers, but in the earlier years I worked for several government departments. That is just to prove that this free for all status that was issued went into the wrong hands and the wrong people. Now the good suffer for the bad, but time will tell. "God don't like ugly." It is going to be worse in time to come, all the criminals from all over the world are going to end up in those wonderful Islands and the most wonderful people of the Cayman Islands will suffer. My heart goes out to the Scott family and to all the people who this wicked act affected but in times like this we must never forget that we have a never failing God who will give justice to those animals. They are heartless and they deserve the same penalty. I must say I am a Jamaican from Mandeville, Manchester, and thank God for saving me, he is my only source and YES! I can depend upon him in all situations. It is winter here now and yet I have to struggle in the cold instead of being home enjoying the beautiful beaches. I have to be bundling up in several layers of clothes but yet I gave several clean years to the people of the Cayman Islands. |
| Twyla M Vargas:
I still can’t understand why? I am of the opinion that these two men have killed before, and the RCIP needs to do a thorough investigation about them in Jamaica and Cayman. I do not think this is their first crime. To the officers at the Northward Prison, I say, “be careful”. These people have nothing to lose. So sad to say these are not the only murderers that are here and they were not let in by any politician. Immigration department needs to do a more thorough investigation on many walking about the streets. What’s wrong with stopping people and asking for identification? We have become too laidback and lazy, and because of our passionate ways we are getting killed. Cayman is angry; we need to allow persons from other nationality to come in and work, but I will be quite frank, some of us want everything for free. We let these people in here and give them extensions and work permit to clean our yards and clean our houses for free. Disgusting. |
| L.D. Paddyfoote:
My question is WHY; why commit such a hideous crime against another human being. My Lord; what kind of threat would this young woman would have been to these two demons. Come on now; take a good look at them and a look at Estella, what on earth were they thinking? Couldn’t they have just taken what they wanted and left? WHY the rape, the killing then the burning of the body? Surely those two were coherent and totally aware of what they were doing. For crying out loud, don’t tell me that someone is going to come to another man’s country and just start robbing, raping and killing people for the fun of it. If they were that bored and wanted something to do with their time they could have volunteered it by helping the senior citizens of the George Town community. Cayman needs people who will do the country justice instead of injustice. You know, there is no punishment that I can think of right now that would be fitting for these two dragons. I know that God forgives because He is a loving and a forgiving God but what can us human beings do in a case like this; surely forgiveness is out of the question – agree? I personally feel like lay waiting them and stoning them to death in public or better yet setting them ablaze, alive, in their locked cells. Oh yeah, don’t forget the rape bit – what they did to Estella should done to them by every inmate at the Northward Prison. Please forgive my rage but as a woman and a Caymanian this whole situation sickens me to the stomach. Now you tell me, is it safe for me to run on the road in the evenings now; can I take my dog for a walk after work now; can sleep with my bedroom windows open now? In answer to my own question I will have to say NO. Unfortunately the Cayman Islands are just too “trusting” of aliens [lack of better words] who enter this country. Take this for example; if a non-American is entering the USA they are fingerprinted and a snapshot of them is taken and kept on file. This may not catch every basket case out there but it sure makes an excellent precautionary measure that enables the country to have a very good idea of whom they are allowing to embark in America. So, I personally think that the Cayman Islands should put in place, for non-Caymanians, a few precautionary measures of their own. Surely we are bound to catch some nutcases here and there which in the long run will avoid any type of reoccurrence like what happened to sweet Estella to anyone else in the Cayman Islands – the place we call home. Oh my I am so hurt and heartbroken, I am brought to tears each time of think of what happened. I pray that Estella may rest in peace and that her family will find strength through the Almighty Himself. |
| Charissa Van Roekel:
An Open Letter to J. Smith:
J. Smith, in regards to your opening comment to the article, "Two Charged With Murder," you seem to be twisting reality for your own perverted joy of some sort.
You comment: "Congratulations on Detective Peter Kennett and all RCIP Detectives and uniformed police also the judiciary that caught these two animals and brought them to justice. As far as I'm concerned Caymanian taxpayers’ money should not pay legal aid fees for these two."
Firstly, one is "brought to justice" after due process of law, not after police arrest and formal judiciary charges being made.
Specifically, it is not for the police to prosecute, try a trial, and give a verdict. It goes something like this: a prosecutor [untainted one] and defense attorney [untainted one] try it [with untainted evidence] before a judge [an unbiased, untainted one]. A jury [untainted one] gives a verdict.
Secondly, isn't the hallmark of the free world the access to an attorney, whether one can afford one or not? Even if these men are guilty of millions of murders, doesn't it serve the Cayman public to try them as innocent until proven guilty, so as to show that a system of due process of law is at work in the Cayman Islands?
Sir, if I ever were falsely accused by you in the Cayman Islands, it would be my privilege to be my own defense attorney to show how pitiful of a strategist you are. I would first show that perhaps you are not even J. Smith, but that that is your pseudonym. Who, are you really, J. Smith? If you are indeed writing under a pseudonym, that is very shameful and deceitful to be playing with such sensitive matters as these that impact so many lives. If you are not writing under a pseudonym, please contact me directly. I am at charissavnaroekel@hotmail.com . I suppose not hearing from you will indicate that I am on the right track.
Whether I hear from you or not, take your kangaroo court of claiming “justice is rendered” with no more than police arrest and formal charges being brought. Take that kangaroo court and sell it to the incognito Communist Party in the developed world, [there is such a party in the United States of all places! Is CPU your office? It even has its own website http://www.cpusa.org/ The current spirit-strangling articles are something like “Marx Was Right” and “Save Main Street Not Wall Street”]
Sir, whatever freedom-destroying nonsense you are attempting to foister on our minds, we will not buy it in the Cayman Islands, no Sir, not in the Cayman Islands, Sir. |
| Kelly Byrd:
My husband and I vacation in the Caymans every year. We enjoy the fact that we don't have to worry for our safety. I hope that the recent series of crimes will not become a trend in the Caymans. Perhaps you need to look at the amount of Jamaicans allowed into the Caymans, as they seem to be responsible for the crimes we are reading about. When we visited in 2005 for our honeymoon, we were told that crime didn't exist in the Caymans because it was not tolerated. It seems that after the hurricane, and the influx of Jamaican workers, that statistic has changed. I hope to see a change in this trend. |
| P. Francis:
The police acted quickly, and I recommend they keep up the good work. Criminals are persons who are suppose to be put to justice in order for the grieving family to feel comfortable. What is to be done now is the government should try their best to help the families of the victim to cope with their losses. |
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