Relatives still awaiting copy of autopsy report
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FAMILY members have voiced their displeasure in the unexplained circumstances surrounding the death of Trevor Douglas and they have written a letter to the Commissioner of Police seeking answers to a number of questions.
In a letter dated April 23, 2013 and headlined ‘Investigation into the death of Mr. Trevor Douglas’, the brother of the deceased, Ricky Rouphine, states, “I write on behalf of my mother, Ms. Elvira Douglas, and other family members of the late Mr. Trevor Douglas who was shot on or about the 27th March 2013 in the vicinity of College Street Ghaut, Cayon Street, Lower Market Street and environs in unexplained circumstances.”
The letter, Rouphine told this media house, was hand-delivered to Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn and copied to the Attorney General, Hon. Jason Hamilton.
“We understand from a press release issued by your office on 4th April 2013 that according to the autopsy performed on the deceased by the pathologist, Dr. Stevens Jones, the cause of death was by haemorrhaging and shock due to a gun-shot injury. In addition, the press release continued and stated that the circumstances surrounding the death are unclear and an investigation is on-going,” the letter also states.
It further states that in another press release dated April 10, 2013, “your office asked several media houses in the Federation to withdraw references to Trevor’s death as ‘murder’ or explain that such a characterisation did not come from your office”.
Rouphine noted that in light of those developments, family members wish to have answers to the following questions:
1. What were the circumstances which led to the police being in pursuit of Trevor?
2. Why did the Police’s Public Relations Officer state in the 6th April- 12th April 2013 edition of The Democrat Newspaper that there was no report of Trevor damaging a vehicle made to the Police as far as he was aware?
3. Why weren’t representatives of the family allowed to witness the autopsy as it was being performed?
4. Why did the police refuse to show Ms. Shamsterdeen Charles, Trevor’s girlfriend, the search warrant and apprise her properly of its content prior to entering her home at around 3:00b a.m. on the morning of the 27th March 2013?
5. It has now been two weeks since the autopsy was performed. Why haven’t we been provided with a copy of it?
6. What is the status of the investigation?
7. Why hasn’t your office been more forthcoming to the family members in terms of providing the requisite information as has been the case in previous investigations?
8. Can we be assured that in keeping with the duties and obligations of your office, that due process and fairness will be exercise in the conduct of this investigation?
9. If it is the case that Trevor was shot by the police, will an independent investigation be conducted and by whom?
He also stated that according to the Police Force’s Mission Statement, “The purpose of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is to uphold the law fairly and firmly, without fear or favour, to prevent crime, to pursue and bring to justice those who break the law, to keep the peace, to protect, help and reassure residents and visitors and to be seen to do all this with integrity and impartiality.”
Rouphine further stated that Douglas’ family expects the Commissioner Walwyn to live up to those ideals and principles of the Police Force.
“We look forward to receiving a prompt response to our questions and look forward to discussing these with you in person shortly thereafter,” he added.
Contacted this morning (Apr. 30) for a comment on the contents of the letter, Commissioner Walwyn indicated to this media house that he had responded to the author.
“I responded to the letter and told him [Mr. Rouphine] that it is an active investigation and the results will be made public when completed. The police cannot discuss active investigations.”
The lifeless body of 34-year-old Trevor Douglas was discovered between two buildings on Central Market Street, Basseterre in the vicinity of Jenkins Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.
According to Rouphine, a post mortem examination was performed on the remains of the former Bobo Dred member on Good Friday (Mar. 29) and family members learnt that he was shot in the back.
“It was not until the body was handed over to us that we realised the rumour to be true. He was indeed shot in the back. He was shot in the back just below the left shoulder.”
An earlier investigation conducted by this media house had revealed that shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, Douglas allegedly smashed the front windscreen and the two right windows of a silver-gray Toyota pickup.
The pickup was parked on Victoria road opposite the Star of India Restaurant and Douglas allegedly smashed the windows and windscreen with a hammer, which was said to have been found on the ground next to his body when it was discovered.
It was also revealed that whilst carrying out his destructive actions, he was approached by a group of persons and he jumped the eastern fence of the Anglican Church in his bid to escape.
He ran along the grounds of the Anglican Church and scaled the wall on the western side, landed on College Street Ghaut, ran in a southern direction along that street, turned west onto Cayon Street then south into Central Market Street.
It was further revealed that during his bid to escape, a single shot rang out and it is suspected that he was hit in the back whilst running in College Street Ghaut.
Trevor Ian Douglas, also known as Eldred, of St. Paul’s but who was residing in Shear Lane, Basseterre at the time of his death, was laid to rest at the St. Paul’s Parish Cemetery on Friday, April 5, 2013.
Among those left to mourn his passing are: his mother Elvira Douglas; father Sidney Buchanan; children Jeffro and Jequana Douglas; brothers Anthony, Victor, Ricky and Clive; sisters Luella, Sicily, Charlene and Heranda; two aunts and four uncles, as well as his children’s mother Shamsterdeen Charles.
