BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Police High Command has attempted to give reasons for the length of time it took to charge one of its subordinates with a shooting incident which took place in mid-2016.
The High Command held a press conference this morning (Feb. 23) at the Police Training Complex where – after a presentation was made by Commissioner Ian Queeley – questions were fielded by the five-member panel.
Only recently, Constable Delroy Stapleton – attached to the Beat and Patrol Unit – was charged with the shooting of Timoy Henry, an incident which took place on June 26, 2016.
The Constable was charged with “inflicting grievous bodily injury with a weapon” and “unlawful discharge of a firearm”.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Andre Mitchel said in order to ensure that a case is as air-tight as it can possibly be, it was necessary to take time with the investigation.
“With respect to the police shootings, investigations sometimes take time. Some investigations are done speedily, sometimes within three days; others required scientific analysis and we need all of this evidence in order to make a determination to charge. So some investigations take time, others take less time. So…we are in the process of investigating matters and we want to ensure that when these matters are presented to the court, the investigation is cogent, solid and it can lead to conviction.
“We don’t want to hustle the investigation and next thing you know the matters go before the court, and you hear another story that matters are dismissed. So we want to know that we are doing our investigation properly; the public expects that, the public demands that…We continue to do all we can to make sure that when we present a matter to the court, it is a matter that can stand the test of time.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy also spoke to the issue reminding that a firearm was used in the commission of the offence. He said because of this, the decision was taken to have ballistic testing done by an independent source.
“So it will take time and it’s not for us to rush an investigation... And I think eight months is a good time in which an officer was properly investigated, files move up the chain, go to the DPP and the DPP send back his instructions,” Brandy expressed.
In addition to being charged, Constable Stapleton “was suspended from all duties with immediate effect pending the determination of the charges”. He was bailed in the sum of $25,000 at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court with two sureties.
