Kin of murdered guard cry for justice

The family and relatives of a poker arcade security guard who was killed in Dandan two weeks ago are demanding justice for the victim.

The 46-year-old sister of Jim Nimwes, 47, a Chuuk national, stated in an interview yesterday that they want to know who the killer is and expect to see justice for her brother.

“I really miss him a lot,” she said, her voice tembling. “He was a very good guy, friendly and not a troublemaker.

Nimwes was not only her brother; he felt more like a father.

“I have 10 children. Every day we depended on him. He was supporting us. He was really helping us,” said the sister, who stays in San Jose.

Nimwes, who was single, raised his 2-year-old nephew since the child was only a month old at their small house in Dandan. His sister, two cousins and a nephew are staying in the Dandan house. Nimwes has a separate house just next to the family’s house.

The sister recalled that in the morning of April 16, the Korean employer of Nimwes came to the family’s house and told them that Nimwes fell from a tree.

She said when her other sister arrived at the scene, Nimwes was lying on the ground under the tree next to JL Poker, where he worked as a security guard for over four years already.

Later, police and an ambulance arrived.

JL Poker is located on the ground floor of a two-story building along Dandan Road. A wall/fence separates the building from an abandoned house. The tree is behind the fence beside the house.

The sister said she talked to Nimwes at the Commonwealth Health Center that morning of March 16 and even the following day.

She said they could not believe that he fell because of the massive injuries to his head and back; his legs were paralyzed too. She asked him if he indeed fell from the tree and she said her brother managed to reply “no.”

The sister said her brother, who was in pain, found it difficult to talk as his neck was swollen.

She said she asked repeatedly who attacked him and her brother would reply, “Later.” The sister said what her brother meant was he could tell later once his condition improves as he was in pain.

“But it’s too late. On Friday [March 17] night he died,” she said.

Nimwes moved to Saipan from Guam in 2003. He stayed at his parents’ house in Dandan. His parents have already passed away. He has 10 siblings, including one in Chuuk and two in Guam. Before he became a security guard, he was a fisherman.

The family is planning to bury him at the Tanapag cemetery this Monday at 10am.

Jesmy Nakayama, 51, said they want to know who killed her cousin.

“I want justice for my cousin,” said Nakayama, who used to be neighbor of Nimwes back in Chuuk.

Nakayama and her 22-year-old son, YJ Nakayama, last saw Nimwes alive at the Roundhouse in Garapan last March 7 for the election of the Chuuk governor.

“He’s a nice, funny guy,” she said.

Nimwes was found with massive injuries last March 16 in the morning south of JL Poker along Dandan Road. The following night, March 17, a doctor at the Commonwealth Health Center pronounced him dead.

Last March 24, Guam chief medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola conducted an autopsy and determined that guard died due to blunt force trauma. Police classified the death as a homicide.