Fingerprints of German mistaken for a robber not found on explosives

CEBU, Philippines - Police have failed to get latent prints from the improvised explosives allegedly owned by a German national who was shot dead by a security guard in Alcoy after he was mistaken for a robber.

The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 could not establish whether the explosives were indeed owned by Hans Jurgen Hesse, 60, because investigators could no longer lift finger prints from it.

Hesse was mistaken for a robber and shot dead last week by security guard Jerome Niere at Sola Homes Subdivision in Barangay Guiwang, Alcoy.

Five improvised explosives were found at the crime scene allegedly owned by Hesse. Finger print experts tried to lift latent prints to verify whether the explosives were indeed owned by the victim.

However, Inspector Atilaño Fabellar, fingerprint examiner, said the latent prints have been damaged.

“Kasi pag ang latent print mabasa damage na kasi ang nakuha naming may mga diesel man mao lisod gyud,” Fabellar said.

Fabellar said they are still collecting some of the broken pieces of evidence at the scene to see if they could still use it.

“May mga leaks kasi ang ibang diesel and if the court really needs it then we will wait for the diesel to dry na hindi ko alam kung kailan,” Fabellar said.

But, Inspector Crisanto Abella, Alcoy police chief, said the latent prints are no longer needed because they have already filed charges against Niere.

“Humana ang investigation basin sa court hearing na lang magamit to prove nga didto nagsugod sa park ang tanan as Niere was to take charge and protect the property sa compound,” Abella said.

Niere shot Hesse in the forehead and chest using his 9mm service pistol. Niere fled after the shooting but was arrested in Boljoon during a follow-up operation and is now charged with murder.— (FREEMAN)