BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE some media houses and their reporters have been stigmatised as perpetrators of sensationalism and publishers of statements taken in the wrong context, members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force are confirming the public’s belief that “the police cannot be trusted”.
On Tuesday, May 19 at approximately 8:30 p.m., 26-year-old Orngel Estridge of Cayon Village died from a single gunshot to the head at her sister’s residence, situated at John F Kennedy Street in Shadwell Gardens.
As is customary, the crime scene was secured by the police and the only pictures that media operatives could have been taken were those of the building, its surroundings, people who were at the scene, and the covered body of Estridge while being taken from the house to the funeral home.
No reporter was allowed within the house where the incident took place. The police however had their own photographer(s) and many pictures were taken to enhance a comprehensive investigation and to be kept in their files.
But, what have they done with the pictures?
Two of these pictures are now circulating within the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and, certainly, by extension, around the world. These pictures, especially the one taken close-up, are very graphic. This particular picture reveals the dead woman’s head resting on a pair of sneakers on the floor, clad in a white brassière and a large pool of blood that oozed from the right side of her head.
The other picture was a distant-angle shot, which additionally reveals her pink and white panty and a chain on her left ankle.
Who started the circulation?
The police, of course…and a very irresponsible one at that!
The first email with the graphic pictures was sent to the Criminal Records Office at approximately 9:46 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20 and with the instruction “for the eyes of c.r.o. only”.
To date, and apart from the initial recipient, the pictures were sent to over 65 email addresses that SKNVibes has seen.
Just two months ago, in a press release headlined “CIRCULATION OF GRAPHIC IMAGES OF CRIME AND ACCIDENT VICTIMS”, the Police Press and Public Relations Office stated that it came to their notice that graphic images of crime and accident victims were circulating on the internet via emails.
“While the practice is not illegal, it is insensitive, as these victims have families who are obviously grieving the lost of their loved ones. These graphic images do not help the families but further traumatize them, and prolong their grief.
“The Police are therefore appealing to the public to be more sensitive and to refrain from photographing and circulating graphic images of victims of accidents and other crime scenes,” the release added.
SKNVibes is therefore appealing to the Police High Command to take immediate action so that the perpetrator(s) of this unscrupulous and irresponsible act will be dealt with condignly.
