In police news tonight – investigators are trying to determine if a man named Andy Avilez died as a result of injuries he received in a fight with a
Chinese businessman early last month.
The entire ordeal started back on October 9th when 52 year old
Chen Wen Hua from a popular hotel in the area of Dolphin Drive got into a fight with 51 year old Avilez who he claims to have caught stealing tools.
Now Avilez is very well known to police and the cops say they found the men wrestling a drain: Wen Hua said Avilez caught him on the side of his face
with an iron rod. Avilez was charged with wounding, and when was taken to court on October 13th, he pleaded guilty. But he had a different
account of what transpired and said police were fabricating a story against him.
He said he was riding my bicycle, picking up bottles out of a drain and that's when he felt someone strike him in the head. He says he fell and and the
person continued to flog him. Avilez said he had to go to the doctor, and showed the Chief Magistrate a doctor paper where he said he spend 6 days in
the hospital.
After he gave his explanation as to what happened, the Chief Magistrate believed him and discharge him with a caution, leaving Avilez free to go.
After that court appearance, Avilez was hospitalized on October 15th. He died 10 days later, and a post mortem found that
the cause of death was a Brain Haemorrhage due to Head Trauma.
So is Chen Wen Hua responsible? Well police didn't even release his name in the report today – and say they have to piece together the story because
they didn't even know that Aviliez ended up in the hospital after appearing in court. They also didn't know when he died. Now it is being classed as a
sudden death while police try and piece together the case. Btu the excess of caution with which the case is being treated led us to question police
today. Here's how that went with the officer commanding northside:…
ACP Dezeree Phillips - O.C., Eastern Division Northside
"Well there is definitely some gaps and we have to do a complete and thorough investigation; the gaps of course needs to be filled. You need to
understand that anything could have happened between the time that Mr. Avilez went to court and the time that he was admitted to the KHMH. Nonetheless
we are looking at all possible angles, recording statements, doing what we need to do ensure that a thorough and proper investigation is launched. At
the conclusion of that investigation the file will be sent to the DPP and we will be seeking her advice on it."
Jules Vasquez
"Now there is some concern because of the different socio-economic background of the two players in this. The business owner who was involved in the
altercation was accusing Mr. Avilez of some of theft. We take it is someone with assets and we take Mr. Avilez is some without. So then the concern
arises that there is not equal treatment under the law, that you all might not be looking immediately at this person because well its somebody with a
little bit of money maybe. How do you respond to that?"
ACP Dezeree Phillips - O.C., Eastern Division Northside
"I totally dismiss that Jules. The matter was dealt with fairly. Like I said earlier both persons were issued with medical form. Mr. Avilez did not
give the police a report. The other person gave a reporter and requested court action and hence Mr. Avilez was arrested and charged for the crime of
wounding."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you about to give the assurance that even with the gap that a fair and equitable investigation will be conducted? Because right now it could be a
case of a homicide, it could be. We don't know but its head trauma."
ACP Dezeree Phillips - O.C., Eastern Division Northside
"We will let the chips fall where they may Jules, whatever is the outcome of the investigation. The DPP will be contacted, the file will be sent to her
for advice. Whatever it is her directive will be complied with. There is no need for any aspersions or any alarm to be caused. This matter I will
reiterate the point to say that a thorough, fair and equitable investigation will be conducted into this matter. No stones will be left unturned Jules;
there is no cause for concern."
The police release says Avilez pleaded guilty to wounding but does not add the rather important detail that his plea was taken back by the chief
magistrate who believed his story and the proof he gave that he had been badly beaten and hospitalized.
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