Lawyer Bertram Stapleton killed by Gunman

DEADLY SHOT

We would never know how far promising young Lawyer Bertram Stapleton would have reached had his criminal law practice been allowed to blossom.{{more}}

Two bullets from a gun abruptly ended his journey on Wednesday at around 9 a.m.

Stapleton, 34, died shortly after being rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his head and right shoulder.

Bertram Stapleton’s office attendant couldn’t contain the grief she was feeling.

Police, at press time, were on the hunt for the gunman who is believed to have been waiting on Stapleton in the Hinds Building at the Market Square in Kingstown.

Reports suggest that as Stapleton made his way up to his law office, located on the third floor of the building, his killer confronted him on the second floor, and shots rang out.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that a court bailiff who was walking behind Stapleton turned back and ran to the nearby court house for help when he heard the shots and the young lawyer’s cries.

The crowd around the Hinds building grew by the seconds as news of the young Lawyer’s death circulated. While below, “Kenlyn” comforts one of Stapleton’s grieving relatives.

The bailiff returned a short while later with another man and found a murmuring Stapleton barely alive, lying in a large pool of blood – his jacket and bags on the floor near to his right leg.

The killer, who was reportedly wearing a bandana over his face, is said to have exited the building and escaped in the direction of the nearby Paul’s Lot community.

Later on Wednesday, a team of police officers removed files and computers from Stapleton’s office.

A police source said that the police are checking every angle as they investigate what is this country’s sixteenth killing for the year.

As Bertram Stapleton’s life oozed away, medical personnel tried desperately to save him. He is seen here being carried into the emergency department of the Milton Cato Memorial hospital.

Stapleton, originally from Chateaubelair, migrated to Antigua many years ago, where he served in the Antigua and Barbuda Police Force. He later moved to England, where he studied law.

He returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2005 to establish his law practice.

Stapleton, who now resides in Layou, leaves behind his wife, herself a lawyer, and three young children.

Telecomunications Minister and North Leeward Parlimentary Representative Dr Jerrol Thompson walked away from the scene briskly, with pain etched on his face.

Ironically, Stapleton’s demise took place a day before the tenth anniversary of the 1998 murder of another lawyer.

Philton Ambris was shot in his stomach by businessman and Calypsonian Robert Cambridge who angrily stormed into the office of the father and son law firm of Williams and Williams, where Ambris was a junior partner.

Cambridge’s body was discovered the following day. He apparently committed suicide.