BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE long wait is over! The inquest into Philo Wallace’s death will be held on Thursday (Jan. 21), but some people have reservations despite the Attorney-General’s promise of “no collusion”.
Wallace, a promising 17-year-old cricketer of Hamilton Village in Nevis, was shot and killed by an off-duty policeman on October 17 last year, which resulted in a public outcry for justice.
According to reports, at about 3:45 a.m. on the day in question, he was shot in the chest while at Enrique’s Bar and died at the Alexandra Hospital approximately half hour after arriving there. Reports also indicate that prior to the shooting, there was an altercation within the bar where the police officer sustained an injury to his head.
On Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 13), members of the media met with Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Hon. Vincent Byron Jr. and sought answers to a number of questions, including “if a lawyer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be selected to prosecute at the Coroner’s Inquest”?
In response, the Attorney-General stated that the matter is still ongoing and “it is an important occasion that we are taking seriously”.
He declared that there would be no secret agreement at the inquest.
“We want the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, and Nevis in particular, feel we are doing the proper thing, that there is going to be no collusion or anything of that nature and there will be a proper outcome that we hope will be satisfactory.”
Wallace’s father and other family members as well as members of the public, including a civic group called Save St. Kitts and Nevis, have all been questioning the time taken in the holding of the Coroner’s Inquest and had stated their concerns in the police investigating one of their own.
The Chairperson of Save St. Kitts and Nevis, Ruth Powell, had stated that among the group’s concerns are: the material evidence was collected by the police and would be presented by the them, which the group feels there is a possibility of bias; an inquest is unnecessary and would not serve the cause of justice; and that the five-member jury at the Coroner’s Inquest was chosen by the police.
Also voicing his concern about the police leading the prosecution at the inquest is Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joseph Liburd.
Speaking with WINN FM, Liburd said that in light of the public outcry, the Coroner’s Inquest ought to be led by a lawyer from the Officer of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“The police are already involved, you don’t want it to look like the police are covering up and helping. The police have investigated the case, so let someone else lead the inquest,” Liburd told the media house.
WINN FM also stated that on Thursday (Jan. 14), Ian Queeley, the ACP with responsibility for Crime, however said that discussions are being had with the Office of the DPP on who would lead the prosecution at the Coroner’s Inquest.
Information reaching SKNVibes states that the Coroner is Her Worship Jasmine Clarke and the inquest will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday (Jan. 21) at the District ‘C’ Magistrate’s Court in Charlestown, Nevis.
This publication was reliably informed that Hugh Oswald Wallace, father of the slain teen, was among those summoned as witnesses to attend the inquest.
