Officers from the RCIPS Cold Case Unit have today (Thursday, 17  October 2013) charged two men in connection with the murder of Frederic Bise (40), whose body was found within the trunk of a burnt out vehicle in West Bay on 8 February 2008.

The men, aged 33 and 42 years, have each been charged with one count of murder. They are both currently serving prisoners at HMP Northward and it is anticipated that they will appear in court to answer these charges on Tuesday, 22 October 2013.

The charges follow an extensive evidential and forensic review of the case by the Cold Case Unit. In excess of 100 statements were examined and witnesses were interviewed both in the Cayman Islands and overseas. The review lasted approximately 20 (twenty) months.

The man who led the review, Detective Inspector Dennis Walkington, is pleased that the painstaking and meticulous examination has resulted in charges. “The Bise family has been kept fully updated throughout the review process,” he said. “They have shown remarkable resolve and courage and we are pleased that they will now see those responsible brought before the court.

“This is the first case which has been reviewed by the Cold Case Unit and we can assure the communities of the Cayman Islands that it will be first case of many. No case is ever closed; we will relentlessly pursue those who have committed such crimes and bring them to justice. After all that’s what the families deserve.”

Despite the passage of time, police are still appealing for anyone who has information that may assist the investigation to contact Detective Inspector Dennis Walkington on 325-8161, the RCIPS tip line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477(TIPS).

Established at the end of 2010, the Cold Case Unit re-evaluates cases of previously unsolved homicides committed within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands.

A cold case is a homicide that has been investigated yet remains unsolved. While evidence might become stale over time, the opposite scenario is sometimes true. For instance, relationships change over time. A person with important information who was unwilling to come forward at the time of a murder may no longer feel so constrained a few years later. Recent technological and scientific advances are also critical when reviewing cold cases.