Guard held in Crosskill’s killing released
THE security guard who was detained last week in the shooting death of journalist Hugh Crosskill Jr, was yesterday released by homicide detectives probing the killing.
“The suspect was released from custody today (yesterday) pending a ruling from the DPP,” assistant commissioner of police, Arthur Martin told the Observer.
Martin said, however, that the file with the statements collected in the matter had not yet been submitted to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Kent Pantry, “as we are awaiting the post-mortem and ballistic reports to complete the file”.
He added that as soon as the reports were received, the completed file would be forwarded to the DPP for advice.
According to Martin, when the DPP gets the file, investigators will await his direction on whether someone is criminally responsible for Crosskill’s death, or whether the matter should be directed to the coroner of St Andrew for an inquest.
Meanwhile, an autopsy on Croskill’s body is scheduled to be done today.
Crosskill, 47, was shot at a medical complex at 1 Ripon Road in Kingston last Friday by a security guard employed to Superior Co Ltd. The firearm was subsequently seized by the police for ballistic tests and the guard was taken into custody.
On Monday homicide detectives probing the killing met with Pantry to seek his guidance on the technical and legal aspects of the investigations.
The police declined to disclose the instructions from the DPP. However, a source told the Observer that self defence was raised by the detectives.
There were conflicting reports on the killing of the veteran journalist.
Police said one of the reports alleged that Crosskill, who was seen in a building at 1 Ripon Road at about 6:30 am, was challenged by the security guard and during a confrontation was shot in the chest.
The other report said that a female worker arrived at the building about 6:30 am and stumbled on Crosskill in the building. She allegedly alerted the security guard who ordered Crosskill off the compound and during an altercation he was shot dead.
