BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A member of the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has reported that the institution has been making inroads into cold cases in the Federation.
SKNVibes recently posed a question on whether the police were making inroads into cold cases in St. Kitts and Nevis, and Assistant Commissioner of Police with Responsibility for Crime, Andre Mitchell confirmed that they have achieved some success in that regard.
Speaking at the Prime Minister recently held press conference, Mitchell was unable to provide details on how many cold cases were solved and for which year.
“What I can say is that these matters continue to get the attention that they deserve, whether by current interviews or by DNA. So we are still pursuing these matters so that we can take the perpetrators to justice,” Mitchell revealed.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris stated for clarification that as the people get hold of the guns, they are subjected to analysis.
“And they therefore can be connected to earlier crime scenes. It is when all of these and other evidence, for example, a witness may just come forward after two years of seeing something and not saying something, a sense of reason has come to him or her and that person may determine it is time to say something.”
Mitchell told reporters that since the acquisition of a Comparison Microscope – an equipment used for ballistic – the Police Force has been testing all firearms that were confiscated.
The Police Force has so far removed 40 illegal firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to the ACP, several of those firearms have been linked to homicides.
“What I can say to you is that seven of these firearms have been linked to homicides, where persons have been arrested. There also have been 12 other arrests made with respect to non-fatal shootings. But all these firearms have been linked to scenes. Investigations are ongoing – notwithstanding that they have been linked to scenes do not say that persons will be arrested, but we are testing all of these firearms.”
Dr. Harris, who is also the Minister of National Security, said that the Comparison Microscope formed part of a large investment the government has made in the law enforcement agency with regards to technology.
Dr. Harris disclosed that the government is also investing in a state-of-the-art forensic lab, stressing that it is something they are committed to, and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year or early next year.
Additionally, it was disclosed that the Police Force would be bolstered with the delivery of a second mobile command center, which is expected in the Federation shortly.
