In the latest development to a story that has engulfed the Cayman Islands in a public debate, the Caymanian Compass has learned that a burglary suspect who was shot to death early Thursday morning was being electronically monitored by the local criminal justice system.
Sources told the Compass that the man had taken the monitoring device off his ankle before the burglary occurred. However, law enforcement officials did not confirm or deny those statements immediately.
A statement released by the 911 Emergency Communications Centre later in the day read as follows: "The Emergency Communications and Electronic Monitoring Department confirms that the person who was shot and killed in an alleged burglary on Liguinea Circle in George Town in the early morning hours of Thursday 22nd July 2010 was in fact a client of the Electronic Monitoring Programme.
"At the time of the alleged interrupted burglary, the relevant tracking device was showing as present at another location. Upon becoming aware that the person who had been shot was a client of the Electronic Monitoring Programme, Police attended the other location and recovered the tracking device.
"The deceased client was referred to the Electronic Monitoring Programme by the RCIPS on the 18th of June 2010 under the provisions of the Bail Law.
"The Department has initiated a full investigation to determine under what circumstances the tracking device became detached from the client."
Royal Cayman Islands Police are still investigating the shooting that occurred around 2am at a home near the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town.
According to Police Inspector Dane Pinnock, a man phoned 911 to report that he had shot an individual who was trying to break into his house at Liguinea Circle.
The man who was shot was taken to hospital in critical condition and Inspector Pinnock said he was later pronounced dead. The man, a 29-year-old, was identified by police as Harryton Rivers.
The man has previously been identified in court proceedings as Harrington Rivers, but his attorney confirmed Thursday that the correct spelling is ‘Harryton’.
Mr. Pinnock said the firearm used in the incident was a licensed firearm.
According to residents in the area near the home, the suspected burglar broke into the house through a window.
Police said the 65-year-old homeowner, awoke to find the man inside his house and fired a single shot, hitting the 29-year-old man in the abdomen.
RCIPS officials said the homeowner, whose wife was also in the house at the time of the break-in, was still being questioned and that the man had not been arrested.
See the Caymanian Compass on Friday for full details.