Authorities close to identifying
car used in gay bashing incident
St. Maarten--Authorities are one step closer to finding the suspects responsible for the brutal beating of two American tourists near Sunset Beach Bar, as they have some details about the car in which the suspects were reportedly travelling on April 6.
St. Maarten Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein disclosed on Wednesday that the detectives assigned to the case were working on finalising details that would conclusively identify the vehicle that was used.
One of the victims, Ryan Smith, was hit by the vehicle just before the suspects, probably three or four persons, exited it and at least one started beating him with a wheel wrench.
He said one suspect was still being held in detention, but declined to give the suspect’s initials saying that the release of the initials would be premature at this stage and could jeopardise the investigation.
He said he had been in constant contact with second victim Richard Jefferson, the senior CBS producer who was also beaten when he walked up to where Smith was being abused and asked what was going on. “I am in contact with him sometimes by phone or by e-mail to give him updates on the investigation,” said Stein.
Jefferson was very vocal both locally and internationally about his dissatisfaction with the treatment he and his friend received from police just after the incident. While Jefferson still resents their seeming lack of interest in the beginning, Stein said he was confident Jefferson was pleased with the progress detectives were making in the investigation of what has been labelled a gay-bashing incident.
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