Mom discovers body of former MP's brother

By TAMARA McKENZIE

Guardian Staff Reporter

The homicide count rose to four Tuesday, after 44-year -old Dale Williams was found dead at his No. 80 Rupert Dean Lane residence. He had a stab wound to the neck.

The discovery was made around 1:45 a.m. by his 82-year-old mother, Rhoda Williams.

Press liaison officer Chief Supt. Hulan Hanna late Tuesday said a young man was assisting police and the investigation was leading toward a "major breakthrough."

"A young man is assisting us and we may make a major breakthrough, that is all I can say at this time," said Mr. Hanna.

Dale, the seventh of 10 children, was the proprietor of Williams Men's Boutique on Rupert Dean Lane, and is the brother of former Free National Movement Member of Parliament for Bain Town, Gregory Williams. The deceased and his mother were the sole occupants of the pink and white five bedroom home where the murder occurred.

Mr Hanna, said police received a call around 2 a.m. yesterday from Mrs Williams, who reported that around 10 p.m. Monday, she had retired to bed, leaving her son watching television in one of the other rooms. When she awoke around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, she discovered that the TV was still on so she went to Dale's bedroom to ask him to turn it off.

"It was at this point that he was not in that room, so she turned the TV off. She decided to make some further checks in the house, being up at that time. Her attention was drawn to another television being on in one of the bedrooms. She went in the bedroom and it was there that she discovered Dale's body lying face down on the floor near a couch," said Mr Hanna.

According to the press liaison officer, it was also discovered that a door leading to the outside of the house and into the room where the victim was found, was open.

When The Guardian arrived at Williams' home Tuesday afternoon, a large black and white wreath had already been draped over the front door. Religious leaders from various Bain and Grant's Town churches had congregated inside the living room, holding hands in prayer for the bereaved family and friends, who either sat tightly inside or on the front porch. The white door leading to the room where the body was found was black with the remains of dusting power left behind by the police. Inside the room, the blood-splattered pillows on the sofa next to where the body was found had been removed, as well as the bed dressings on a nearby bed. However, small smudges of blood was visible on the plastic covering the mattress, as well as on the wall.

Gregory Williams said his mother called him at his residence next door to her Rupert Dean Lane home shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, but he allowed the answering machine to take the call, as it was very early in the morning. He said while listening to the message, he heard the frantic voice of his mother saying "I need you now"!

He said his mother then proceeded to "bang" on the door of another son's house behind the main residence. He left his home and rushed over to his mother's house, where she told him his brother was dead.

"She said that he was in the room. I wanted to go in the room to look at him, but she said 'no, let me tell you the story'." Mr Williams said.

The former Bain Town MP described his brother as a really "sweet, nice and an innocent gentleman who would not harm a fly."

"He was totally non-violent. He did not even have a driver's license, just because he did not want the hassle of driving a vehicle. He was the most harmless creature there was," Mr Williams said, adding that if violence should happen to anyone, it should not have been Dale.

Nightclub promoter Wilbert Bain, 44, became the third homicide Monday, when he was shot and killed by two men yards away from his McKinney Drive home.

There are no "significant developments to report," said Mr Hanna, adding that the police are following a number of leads.

The shooting occurred around 5 a.m. when Mr Bain pulled into his driveway. It is believed he managed Club 601. According to Mr Hanna, the lifeless body of Bain was found lying in the middle of McKinney Drive and Rocky Pine Road.

Caption: FOURTH HOMICIDE - The body of 44-year-old Dale Williams (inset), found dead in his home by family members, is removed by attendants. Staff Photo by Patrick Hanna

Posted: Wednesday February 11, 2004