BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Once again, family members of the late Trevor Douglas are seeking answers from Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn. This time, however, it is about them not formally receiving information on the findings of the police’s investigation into his shooting-death.
A letter, written by Douglas’ Anguilla-based brother Rickey Rouphine to Commissioner Walwyn and copied to Crown Counsel W Alethea Gumbs, Attorney General Hon. Jason Hamilton and a number of media houses, expressed the concerns of family members over their non-receipt of formal information pertaining to the police’s investigation
“We heard via media report that the investigation into the death of Mr. Trevor Douglas has been completed. We are appalled that no formally communication has been sent us on this matter. We do not feel we should have heard about it via media, the proper approach would have been to communicate directly with us,” the letter reads.
It further reads: “However we are grateful to know that the investigation is completed and wish to have a copy of that report as soon as possible.”
According to WINN FM’s Toni Frederick, a copy of the letter was also sent to the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions who, when contacted, said that she had no comment to make on the matter.
Last week, a release from the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Lyndon David, stated: “The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force have just concluded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Douglas and have forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for her consideration. The police will abide by, and adhere to, whatever decision the DPP makes based on her review of the case file.”
An investigation launched by this media house however revealed that Douglas was shot in the back by a member of the RSCNPF.
It also revealed that through the efforts of Commissioner Walwyn, an overseas-based ballistics expert, who was recently in St. Kitts, found that the bullet which killed Douglas was fired from a firearm that belongs to the Police Force.
Douglas’ lifeless body was discovered on the morning of Wednesday, March 27, 2013 lying on a narrow space between the Central Guest House and Apartments building and an abandoned building south of it in the vicinity of Jenkins Funeral Home.
An investigation conducted by SKNVibes at that time revealed that shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Mar. 27), the former Bobo Dread member of St. Paul’s Village who was residing with his children and their mother at Shear Lane in Basseterre at the time of his demise, allegedly smashed the front windscreen and the two right windows of a silver-gray Toyota pickup that belongs to the leader of the Bobo Dreads.
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 allegedly 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.
SKNVibes spoke with a number of persons who, on condition of anonymity, claimed to have heard the report of gunfire at approximately 12:45 a.m. and a male voice saying, “A think a hit him.”
Since then, family members had voiced their displeasure in the unexplained circumstances surrounding his death and had written a letter to the Commissioner of Police seeking answers to a number of questions.
The family members, headed by Rouphine, stated in the letter that no member of the family was allowed to witness the autopsy when it was being performed, and that after two weeks of its conclusion they were not provided a copy of the findings.
Among the questions Rouphine asked were: “What were the circumstances which led to the police being in pursuit of Trevor?” and “It it is the case that Trevor was shot by the police, will an independent investigation be conducted and by whom?”
On Tuesday (Apr. 30), the Commissioner of Police was contacted for a comment on the contents of the letter and he had 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.”
Trevor Ian Douglas, also known as Eldred, was laid to rest at the St. Paul’s Parish Cemetery on Friday, April 5, 2013.
