BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- Several years after the tragic death of 21-year-old Andrew Douglas, his family is one step closer to obtaining justice following the conclusion of a coroner's inquest aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding his demise.
During Tuesday's (Feb. 13) press conference, Attorney General Garth Wilkin disclosed that the inquest, initiated in November 2022, reached its conclusion on January 9th, with findings indicating criminal implications.
“The Jury determined unlawful homicide, yet the perpetrator remains unidentified. Consequently, the testimonies gathered during the inquest, along with the Jury’s findings and post-inquest deliberations, have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further examination,” he informed reporters during discussions regarding ongoing inquests.
Confusion gripped the Customs Department in Bird Rock on September 17, 2020, when gunfire erupted within the facility. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered 21-year-old Andrew Douglas had sustained a single gunshot wound to the head. Despite efforts to save him, he tragically succumbed to his injuries at the JNF General Hospital.
Initially deemed a suicide by authorities, skepticism emerged within the community, questioning the conclusion. Doubts arose concerning how the young man could have accessed the firearm.
Following AG Wilkin's announcement, renewed scrutiny emerged: how indeed did Douglas gain access to the weapon?
Meanwhile, while awaiting the DPP's decision on this case, nine other coroners' inquests are reportedly pending before the courts.
