Silent witnesses allowed suspect killer to walk free
(CNS): The man that police believe killed Darrington Ebanks (29) on Christmas Day 2018 walked free because of the silence of those present on the night he was shot, according to detectives who investigated the murder. Following the coroner’s inquest last week, when Ebanks’ death was confirmed an unlawful killing, the police said the case remains active and urged anyone who saw what happened that night to come forward.
“The case is still open and police are appealing to any witnesses that may have been in the area during or after the incident and have not yet spoken to a detective to please come forward,” an RCIPS spokesperson told CNS.
The police did not have enough evidence to prosecute West Bay resident William Isaac Ebanks-Romero (23) for the murder because witnesses who had identified him on the night of the shooting refused to confirm their evidence in writing.
During last week’s inquest, Detective Inspector Collins Oremule explained that Ebanks-Romero had tested positive for gunpowder residue at the time of his arrest and that clothing very similar to that worn by the killer was recovered from his house.
However, Oremule said that this was not enough to continue the prosecution and secure a conviction because it did not prove he was the killer.
Although Ebanks-Romero served over five months in jail after he was charged with murder, he walked away a free man on 31 May 2019, right before his trial was due to start. Since then no one else has been charged.
Darrington Ebanks, a father of two, was shot in the leg and the back of the head at close range following an altercation near the junction of Fountain Road and King Road in the Boatswain Bay area of West Bay during the early morning hours of Tuesday, 25 December.
Ebanks was sitting under a tree when a car pulled up and the men inside argued with him about a woman. The men in the car left but a few minutes later Ebanks was shot.
This case is one of almost two dozen murders of young men, most of them rival gang shootings, over the last fifteen years in which police are fairly certain of the killer’s identity. But they remain unsolved, largely due to a lack of willing witnesses. In some cases, the suspects went on to become victims of the tit-for-tat shootings.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Mr. George, would you rob, cut, injure, beat down or shoot other people for money under any circumstances? Would you? I would not. Not under any circumstances. I take responsibility for myself and my living condition. I always have.
True but ‘they’ don’t want to hear that so you know dislikes will follow. Meanwhile bloody mess in UK with all the stabbings
George, when’s the march for the fuel hike that’s coming?
Am I the only one that is confused by the statement “Following the coroner’s inquest last week, when Ebanks’ death was confirmed an unlawful killing” The deceased was SHOT twice – three years ago! Why did it take 3 years to confirm, and what circumstances would deem this a ‘lawful’ killing?
17 @ 7:37 am – The Coroner’s inquest is the final, formal inquiry into a person’s death (when one is required) and the cause thereof. Despite “suspicions” or observations by Police and citizens as to the cause of death, the inquest formally declares the circumstances of death. In this case, the Coroner’s declaration has to be “unlawful killing” -that is the term used in the statutes. A “lawful” killing may or may not exist but that determination depends on the circumstances.
I believe the killing of an armed home invader in the middle of the night, who was under Court-ordered confinement & electronic monitoring, by the homeowner who
had a legal firearm, may have been declared a “lawful” killing.
As to the three year wait – most serious legal processes in Cayman are lengthy – 3 years for a Coroner’s inquest is not terribly unusual.
That comment doesn’t even make sense.
Oh, because if you don’t have a job it’s understandable that you decide to shoot people?
Wow… Utter rubbish.
Why People do not come forward is because they know and see the reality of this place! They see the blatant disparity and unfairness in the law and the insidious corruption that exist right here in Cayman.Who will defend witnesses or victims surely not our foreign law enforcement and judicial apparatus who now seem more concerned in catering to the very connected rich and fellow brethren and own country folk and our indifferent political cheats who cater to this extremely unfair system. This culminates to fear and mistrust and lack of respect for the law . As a friend once said to me “ Their is no Law & Order and absolutely no Order in the Law.
When is our country going to begin doing or requesting Proper Background Checks when issuing Work Permits ?????????
And he exactly will that address the Caymanian s involved?
Yeah, totally. How dare WORC let in people like
“William Isaac Ebanks-Romero” and “Darrington Ebanks”.
Also love your suggestion of “witness protection program” in the post below. Sure, let’s give the witness a new name, a fake mustache and he can move from George Town to Bodden Town. No way they’ll find him.
Thanks for the entertainment.
One of the comments by your readers claiming the murders in the Cayman Islands is over ‘women and having kids playing with gun’s” clearly shows how out of touch some Caymanians really are with what is really happening
Bahamas just had 5 people shot dead this week-end on the same street and people are LIVING in FEAR in the Bahamas, just like people are LIVING in FEAR in the Cayman Islands and choose to remain silent out of fear for there safety.
These killings have becommon practicr in Trinidad, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
Read the news and encourage proper Witness Protection Programs for those who are affected and brave enough to offer information and insight into what is really going on
https://www.google.com/amp/s/worldakkam.com/weekend-murders-believed-to-be-a-gang-related-turf-war-eye-witness-news/731525/amp/
The Lord knows and your punishment awaits.
“Gang killings” my ass…most start over women and then tit-for-that afterwards! Kids with guns!
You watch way too much movies, you think that the gangs in other countries have a grain more sense than the ones here? A gang is a gang. Get your head blowed off deal with it.
RIP to the victim and condolences to his family. Can you blame the witnesses for being silent though ? Their are tons of articles on CNS, Cayman compass and so fourth throughout the years where I read that the “deceased” was due to testify on this suspect, the witnesses have received serious threats and the list goes on. The police have had a poor witness protection program for years and some of them just don’t even care which is even more awful. People have caught on to this trend and just chose to remain silent. My point is I’m just sick of reading that this witness was killed because they was brave enough to do the right thing and testify on a clown of a human so I don’t blame them at all for being silent.
6:28. Rubbish post. You just made that up. The RCIPS has an excellent witness protection program.
I have never read any where that a crown witness was killed before they testified.
http://archive.caymannewsservice.com/2013/10/04/murder-in-marina-drive/
RIP to this victim. This is one of many articles. Whether they’ve died before or after that’s not the point. I’ve even also read a comment in a old article complaining of witness protection.
OK, I’m one of those awful US Expats that you so dearly HATE (except my money, which I have so freely supported the Cayman economy since 1987). I read this story with sadness for Cayman. In my community in Ohio, if this happened… We (as a community) would have OUTED the individual in an eye-blink!!!!! We would not stand for this. Cayman, STOP blaming Jamaicans, stop blaming ExPats. It is your small rock in the ocean, be proud, be willing to take responsibility, be willing to expunge corrupt presence; STOP protecting those who are not worthy of your protection. My wife and I are scheduled to finally return for a stay after 2 1/2 years, I hope what we see is close to what we fell in love with many years ago, and have supported for the past 35 years.
You need to look at your police bail system. Putting dangerous criminals back on the street in a day or two with nothing but a promise to be good doesn’t reassure eyewitnesses.
We don’t even know who shot Frank.
Frank doesn’t know who shot Frank
…….but Frank knows who shot Frank….
Who’s Frank?
16 @ 6:18pm – Former Cabinet Minister, Sociologist & playwright Dr. Frank McField.
Just because the RCIPS made an arrest and held someone without trial doesn’t mean they are above reproach and never make mistakes. Not corroborating that arrest with sworn witness testimony was probably mistake #1.
You cannot put a face to a masked man…
Cayman has become a little Jamaica, sad,but facts are facts, the best Cayman was and will be, was like how it was in the nineties.
More like the 80s. When private Radio and Cable TV came in in the 90’s it brought with it another culture and that culture changed a nation.
So true. Look no further than the mass status grants by McKeewa and other politicians around that time.
How sad, blame others for what YOU allowed to transpire.
We didn’t. A police force that is yet to even investigate did.
You elected him, over and over.
I did not elect our police force. I simply expect it to enforce the law, and not be corrupt.
Eighties.
Well, except for the rapes and break-ins but yeah, I hear ya.
Seriously, the early ’90’s were why I stayed so long. I didn’t have much to steal anyway.
I presume you mean the 1890s, 2:48, because you could never mean the 1990s. The gangsta stuff was hot and heavy then too.
2:48. What? A little Jamaica. Are you insane?
Cayman has zero murders this year Jamaica has over 200.
It’s not a ‘Little Jamacia.’ It’s CAYMAN! Take responsibility for what is HERE. Don’t like it, help to identify these criminals. If you don’t, you are complicit.
Stop with the Jamaica stuff – you are responsible for your own islands and your own running around!
Anyone who won’t admit to the terrible influence Jamaicans have on this island is a fool wearing rose-coloured glasses.
Ah yes the “Jamaican Influence TM” that I hear so much about.
Seems like most of the “Jamaican Influence TM” here is
1. Getting things built/maintained.
2. Providing a police/fire/ambulance service.
3. DOING the work that y’all are too good for.
How awful for you all, I see why you hate them so much.
Not the nineties, the late seventies.