ON March 4, 1974 I again saw Erskine Durrant (Buck) Burrows at Police Headquarters but he had nothing to add to his previous interview. In addition to his possessing the murder weapon (used to assassinate Police Commissioner George Duckett and fired during the execution-style killings of Shopping Centre executives Victor Rego and Mark Doe), there is now every reason to believe he was the person responsible for the shooting at Bleak House (now Tyne Bay House) on the anniversary of Mr. Duckett's death, on September 9, 1973.

The shotgun used was the one found in his possession when arrested and the ammunition was the same as fired at the house, the cartridges being identical.

He denied responsibility for this offence and also for the shooting incident with the same shotgun some eight days previously, September 1, 1973, at the Piggly Wiggly Plaza, Shelly Bay, when the telephone wires leading to the premises were cut.

As will be seen by the statement of Mr. Owen Facey, Senior Scientific Officer, Metropolitan Police Laboratory, the wire cutters found in Burrows' room at Police Headquarters (where he had worked as a janitor and lived throughout most of the 1972/73 crime spree) after his arrest are the same as those used to sever the telephone wires at the Plaza.

This evidence involves him in that incident and as the same shotgun was used it tends to prove his possession of the weapon prior to the shooting at Bleak House on September 9, 1973.

It must be mentioned, however, there is no evidence that these wire cutters were the same as those used to cut the telephone wires at either Bleak House or the Shopping Centre.

Burrows had a good knowledge of Bleak House and in all probability the habits of the Duckett family which he had gained whilst working there (a lifetime petty criminal prior to his indoctrination in Marxist/Black Power dogma by members of the Black Beret Cadre who recruited him as a hitman during a prison stint in 1971/72, Burrows had struck up an unlikely friendship with Police Commissioner George Duckett.

It was Duckett who enabled him to find full-time work and accommodation at Prospect Police Headquarters and Burrows was often called on to help with routine maintenance work at Bleak House. The Black Berets preyed on Burrows' intimacy with the Commissioner using basic psychological techniques popular among extremist militant groups during the 1960s/'70s, engaging in what amounted to a type of low-key brainwashing.

The militants convinced the lonely orphan Burrows that far from being a father figure, Duckett was the embodiment of the oppressive colonial forces that had supposedly distorted both his life and Bermudian society. Burrows began to style himself as "Commander-in-Chief of All Anti-Colonialist Forces in Bermuda" and "The Cuba Kid" ¿ a homage to Fidel Castro ¿ after the Berets had finished coaching him in their particular brand of radical politics.)

He would also know the radio in Mr. Duckett's car, having cleaned it on many occasions (the wires were cut prior to the Police Commissioner's murder), and would be aware there was no other form of communication inside the house with Police Headquarters other than the telephone, which was made inoperative.

Burrows would also know which was the telephone cable to cut as distinct from similar electric power cables that all led to the house.

Burrows' alibi for the night of Mr. Duckett's murder was he was running and exercising in The Arboretum from 7.45 p.m. until 11.15 p.m., notwithstanding it was dark. There is no one to corroborate this.

His alibi for the Shopping Centre murders is equally weak, stating that during the material times he was alone in his room at Police Headquarters.

For the period when the Governor and his Aide-de-Camp were murdered, he alleges that he was alone at (a friend's) shack on Bleak Farm from 9.20 p.m. until about midnight, when (his friend) returned. Government House to Bleak Farm via North Shore Road is only a short distance.

Burrows' motive for being concerned in these murders was undoubtedly his strong racial views on white people and colonialism which was verified by his outburst in (the Supreme) Court (after he was convicted of various robbery and firearms offences not including the five murders in early 1974 and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment) as well as the various writings found in his possession. This could well account for the shooting incident at Police Headquarters on two occasions of which he denied all knowledge. The .38 revolver used on the first occasion is without doubt the one traced to Burrows' possession via (his friend) Dice Wade, and the shotgun used on the second occasion is the one found in his possession when arrested.

There is also his known association with (career criminal and fellow Black Beret hanger-on Larry Winfield) Tacklyn, Mr. X (another professional criminal suspected of involvement in the murder spree but never charged in connection with any of the killings), Beret Yellow (a leading member of the Black Berets with a hair-trigger temper and a long criminal record) and other members of the Black Beret Cadre who also hold similar, racialistic (sic) views.

The above facts, with the exception of the identification of the wire cutters, were made known to the Attorney General on March 4, 1974.

Unfortunately it has not been possible to have an intelligent interview with Tacklyn due to his demeanour and wild outbursts whenever it was attempted (ultimately Tacklyn was charged of being involved with Burrows in both the Government House and Shopping Centre murders).

As previously mentioned, he came to notice following the robbery of Masters Ltd., Clarendon Building, Hamilton for which he and Mr. X were convicted. Except for the shootings, the modus operandi (involved in the Shopping Centre robbery/murders) is identical.

It will be recalled that Tacklyn was first identified for this robbery when a witness saw a video tape recording of his appearance on TV following the Shopping Centre murders when he and others on the programme complained of Police harassment.

He was also identified (by another witness) as being one of the men she had seen running towards and then later from the direction of the Shopping Centre during the material time of the murders. This young lady also identified him when she later saw him at the Airport as he intermingled with other passengers.

There is also the information received from (a confidential source), an employee of the Piggly Wiggly Supermarket, Hamilton. It will be remembered that a few days prior to the Shopping Centre murders (the informant) was questioned by Tacklyn, Mr. X and (self-styled Godfather of Bermuda's criminal underground) Bobby Greene about the takings at the Piggly Wiggly on a Friday night.

They suggested to (the informant) that he left an internal door open at the supermarket whilst they cut the protecting bars of a side window.

When the last of the customers had left and the main doors were closed they could then enter by this window and make their way to the office where they could "bump off" the manager and steal the takings.

Although this information is of little evidential value, at present, it does tend to prove their involvement in the Shopping Centre murders where the method employed was identical.

(Another witness) also identified Tacklyn from the video tape recording as being one of the two men she had seen running across Marsh Folly Road from the direction of Government House immediately after the murder of Sir Richard Sharples and Captain Hugh Sayers. Unfortunately this lady could not or would not identify Tacklyn when she saw him at the Airport.

One of the most interesting statements is the one made by John Henry Williams (a career criminal who had known Tacklyn since childhood; having once romanced his mother, he had become something of a father substitute). He says that about 3 am one morning Tacklyn called on him at his home and over a few drinks discussed the murders.

Williams says this discussion took place whilst Tacklyn was on bail for the robbery at the Clarendon Building. This would make it a date between July 5 and 9, 1973, the only period Tacklyn was on bail for this offence.

From this statement it will be seen that Tacklyn first spoke of the robbery at Masters Ltd., Clarendon Building and admitted committing same.

He then mentioned the murder of Mr. Duckett and said his "Ace boy" had taken care of him. "Ace boy" means best friend and Williams understood him to refer to Burrows.

Tacklyn said he could have done a better job as everybody in the house was supposed to have been shot.

The murders of Sir Richard and Captain Sayers were then discussed and Tacklyn admitted being responsible.

Tacklyn told Williams he had not planned the murders but he knew there was a party at Government House (on the night of March 10, 1973) and this gave him the idea (the attack should take place that evening).

He described the route he took to Government House and said he hid in the bushes. He noticed people moving about and then the Governor and his ADC came near to him with the dog (Sir Richard's Great Dane, Horsa).

Tacklyn said he shot the Governor first and the ADC immediately afterwards. The dog then came smelling up to him and he shot it at close range.

His escape route was via the track and across Marsh Folly Road to his home at Deepdale. This is the same route as that taken by the two men seen by (two eyewitnesses) immediately after the murders.

The method described to Williams is practically identical to what we know to have occurred at Government House and as these details were never disclosed to the Press it must be accepted that Williams, who was in prison at the time, is speaking the truth.

Williams asked Tacklyn if he was also involved in the Shopping Centre (robbery and killings), to which he replied: "Yes, man, that Portagee bastard hit me in the guts. That's the reason they both got shot."

Tacklyn then related how he and a "mate" had committed the offences.

He said they got in the back way and hid. Mr. Rego and Mr. Doe were either counting the money or dumping it out of a bag. Mr. Rego put up a fight and hit Tacklyn in the stomach.

Tacklyn did not mention how much money they got or how they got away.

As will be seen from his statement, Williams has known Tacklyn for many years and he confides in him. Perhaps further information will be forthcoming from Williams.

Reference should be made to Beret Yellow. Although there is little evidence against him, he has undoubtedly participated in all of the murders.

He is a very cunning individual who refused to answer any questions when interviewed and is sufficiently intelligent to have carefully planned these assassinations.

The only evidence against him to date is the shotgun cartridge found in his possession which is identical to those used in all the shotgun incidents.

Whilst his alibi for the time of the Government House murders is weak, he succeeded in visiting numerous premises that evening to cause confusion in the minds of the people later interviewed to corroborate him.

Also there appears little doubt that many Bermudians, including his close and criminal associates, fear him and consequently avoid involvement.

A man capable of indoctrinating others with his racial views, he will continue to be a threat to society, particularly should he ever return to Bermuda.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a successful conclusion to these investigations is close to hand and every effort will be made to achieve this end. Enquiries are still being pursued by officers of the Murder Squad and I am confident they will eventually produce the desired result.

There is a prima facia case against Burrows in respect of his involvement in the murders of Mr. Duckett, Mr. Rego, Mr. Doe and very little additional evidence is required to establish a similar case against Tacklyn with regard to the murders of Sir Richard Sharples, Captain Sayers, Mr. Rego and Mr. Doe.

As mentioned previously in the report, others are involved in the commission of these murders but to date there is not sufficient evidence to justify proceedings being instituted.

Several useful informants have been cultivated during the course of this investigation, including some who are actually serving prison sentences alongside Burrows, Tacklyn and Mr. X, so some useful information should be forthcoming from this direction.

Whilst it is believed that the persons responsible for these murders are either in custody or off the island, it must not be assumed that no further major incidents will occur. Unfortunately there are quite a number of people in Bermuda who hold extremist views and, consequently, are capable of violence.

Undoubtedly the hard core of the Black Beret Cadre, the criminal element and other fanatical racists will continue in their efforts to undermine authority in Bermuda in their so-called struggle for Independence and freedom.

Close surveillance is necessary if the spate of violence similar to that now being experienced in the Caribbean area is to be prevented.

The community as a whole must be more cooperative if they wish to enjoy the peace in Bermuda that has hitherto existed. They must overcome this non-involvement attitude which currently exists in the community and begin to pay heed to the constant appeals by Police for information when a serious crime has been committed and by reporting anything of a suspicious nature.

It is astonishing, for example, that a man like Burrows, who being wanted for armed robbery and other offences, could successfully go to earth leaving no trace behind him in such a small island with relatively few inhabitants.

In reality, it is virtually impossible unless he is either assisted by someone or else there are those who know of his whereabouts but consider it none of their business. The same applies in respect to these murders. No useful information whatsoever has been volunteered by any member of the community.

It is known that some fear intimidation, however, and this is going to be difficult to overcome unless the majority of the population take a firm step towards assisting in the maintenance of law and order.