Patrick Harrison is feeling more secure now that wanted man Neil Bovell is dead.
Harrison's daughter, Phillippa, was murdered on September 6, 2003 at Warlock, East Ruimveldt.
Phillippa Harrison was Bovell's reputed wife and had walked out of the relationship shortly before she was stabbed to death.
Hours after Bovell was shot dead by police at Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara, Patrick Harrison told this newspaper that while he cannot rejoice at the killing, he is certainly happy that the police have finally been able to end a frightening period of his life.
“Now that I am a Christian, I cannot rejoice… but at least many people will feel safe,” Harrison said.
For the three years that Bovell avoided capture, Harrison had been frequently behind the police, both directly and through the media, to nab the wanted man.
He said he had more reason to feel afraid of Bovell, since the fugitive had threatened to kill him.
“I feel more secure now that he is away because he told people that he wanted me,” Harrison said.
He believed that the longer Bovell remained on the loose, the better were his chances were of getting off if he ever had to appear in the courts.
He explained that it had happened before when witnesses in another Bovell murder trial couldn't remember events or had left the jurisdiction.
He stated that he was certain that Bovell was always hiding out on West Demerara, since it was there that he would have received the most help.
He said that he had received word that Bovell had friends in the police force and this aided in his remaining at large for so long.
Harrison said that he first learnt of Bovell's death at around midday yesterday when he returned home from the city.
“When I came home my daughter said that somebody had called to say that the police had shot Bovell. I did not believe, because I felt that she was talking about a criminal who was caught at the Main Big Lime.
“I turned on the TV but the midday news had just finished,” he said.
Harrison became uneasy and was desperate to confirm what his daughter told him.
He telephoned the Police Commissioner's office and a female there told him that the news of Bovell's demise was accurate.
Still not satisfied, Harrison telephoned the police at East La Penitence and they too confirmed the fugitive's death.
“I still called Kaieteur News and they confirmed it. And then Evening News called me for an interview and it was then that I was really sure that he was dead,” Harrison said.
He expressed gratitude to the police who he said persisted relentlessly after the fugitive even when people believed that they had given up.
“I wrote to several Police Commissioners about Bovell. Now this is my New Year's gift,” Harrison said.
“Criminals have to know that if they run and try to hide, when the police catch them, they will go down,” he added.
Harrison said that his daughter will be attending Bovell's funeral just to see if it is the same man that they once knew.