PHILIPSBURG:--- Police Officer Richmer York better known as "Red Rum" has been ordered to get a physiological test. York is in pre-trail detention at an undisclosed location for the murder of Akeem Isidora back in March 2015. The prosecutor office is still investigating to case and intends to bring the case to court soon. Press Prosecutor Karola Van Nie confirmed to SMN News Wednesday evening that the prosecution ordered this testing in order for them to determine the suspect state of mind at the time of the crime. Asked if York did not go through a phsiological evaluation before he became a Police Officer Van Nie said that will not be used in the trial unless his lawyer wants it in the file. Prosecutor Van Nie also could not say when the case of York will be taken before the courts.She further added that on request of the prosecutor a so called preliminary enquiry (gerechtelijk vooronderzoek) has been opened by the judge of instruction. Several witnesses are being heard by the judge of instruction in presence of the prosecutor and the lawyer of the suspect.
Police spokesperson Inspector Ricardo Henson in the police report after the incident said witnesses had reported the incident occurred after a very heated verbal confrontation between the off-duty officer, who was driving in his personal vehicle at that time and a group of guys from Belvedere Henson even said that the young men in Belvedere fired shots at the off duty officer who responded in self defense when he shot Isidora to death. At one point during this confrontation the situation escalated and got out of control, Henson said at the time. That was when shots were fired, according to witnesses, leaving Isidora dead on the street.
York told his colleagues and investigators that he acted in self-defense the night of the shooting but the mother of the slain victim and other neighbors said that York's excuse was an outright lie and that he was in the habit of harassing Isidora who was a friend of his girlfriend. Shortly, after the shooting incident that claimed the life of Akeem Isidora, management of KPSM and Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson suspended Officer York with pay pending the outcome of the current investigation.It should also be noted that a detective that is working at the National Detectives gave a statement the morning after the fatal shooting stating that York had called him about 5pm the afternoon before and told him he was going to "take out" Isidora whom he claimed was harassing his girlfriend. The detective was eventually sent home after the head of the National Detectives said he is under investigation for alleged dereliction of duties. To date it is not clear who really is conducting the investigation against the detective who is currently on paid leave. The detective in question had spoken to Officer York one week before he shot Isidora to death when York arrested Isidora and took him to the Philipsburg Police Station because he could not produce an Identification card when Officer York approached him. The arrest of the slain murder victim had taken place not far from his home and even though the mother of Isidora ran out of her home with her son passport, Officer York ignored her and proceeded to arrest Isidora. SMN News learnt that the mother of Isidora had contacted the detective who is related to her and asked him to speak to York since her son was on vacation and he was being harrassed constantly by York. According to information SMN News received the detective in question contacted York to discuss what was happening between him and Isidora but York convinced him that there was nothing personal between the two of them and that he was only executing his duties as a police officer. One week later York who was in Belevedere in the vicinity of the Isidora's home pointed his service revolver at Isidora and told him that he was going to kill him. Jenifer Isidora told SMN News in an interview that her son was walking his dog with another friend with York started to follow them in his private vehicle and pointed his weapon at her son. SMN News further learnt that York then called the detective who spoke to him the week before and told him that he was going to 'take out Isidora" It is understood that the detective spoke to York and even ordered him to leave the Belvedere area since he was not on duty and does not live in Belvedere, but York did not listen to his colleague instead he stayed in the area and by 7pm that evening he fired three shots, two of the shots hit Akeem Isidora who died on the spot while the third shot was fired at the older Isidora but York missed his target and the bullet was found days later in the wall where Junior Isidora was standing. After the fatal shooting York fled the scene and went to the Philipsburg Police station where he gave his colleagues his own tale of events that led to to him shooting to death Akeem Isidora.
The fatal shooting took place on March 4th, while York was was arrested on Sunday May 17th. Days after he was sent to Aruba after receiving several threats from inmates at the Point Blanche prison.
