Email

Print

And while Rhaburn remains at large, Punta Gorda townspeople remain angry that PC Tevin Aranda was not charged for murder.  Aranda shot and killed Mario Vernon on Saturdaynight - in what PG residents believe was an execution.  But, police say that Vernon had a gun - and that claim has incensed town residents - who say it’s all a setup.  

Now, ARANDA has been charged for manslaughter - and we asked the police all the tough questions today:..

Jules Vasquez
"You responded to the communities' complaints that in fact manslaughter is not enough that it was a murder."

ACP Joseph Myvett - National CIB
"Well first we can only go by the evidence that we have and that is what was presented however the investigation is still an ongoing investigation."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you all of the opinion that because the charge manslaughter suggest that there was no intent to shoot the man in his head and kill him."

ACP Joseph Myvett
"That's not what the charge of manslaughter is saying, its just that there was not the intention to kill, that is the difference between a charge of manslaughter and a charge of murder or someone acting in self defence."

Jules Vasquez
"Town's people are very insistent with how this can be that the gun was planted on Mr. Vernon after the murder and there was in fact a recording of him with no gun and police officers destroyed it. It's a very live issue there what would you say in response to this?"

ACP Joseph Myvett
"Well I can tell you that those allegations were brought to us and those allegations are being investigated by the professional standard's branch by Mr. Williams himself who remains on the ground. I believe yesterday he was still in Punta Gorda."

Reporter
"Do you know if it was dispelled that the scene was tampered with?"

ACP Joseph Myvett
"I know that myself, Mr. Williams and a team of other police officers were on the ground on Monday and we have spoken to most of these witnesses who were in the area. I know that a number of statements have been recorded from these witnesses and every information that was given to us we are following on.â€￾

Notably, the media requested to hear from the man heading the investigation, ACP Chester Williams - but he was not selected to appear at the press conference.