Death as a result of asphyxia, secondary to hanging. This was the outcome of a post-mortem examination conducted on 34-year-old Shem Sinaise on Monday afternoon. Last Saturday residents of Laborie stood in shock outside the community’s police station as news spread of Sinaise’s death while in legal custody.
On Monday afternoon police superintendent George Nicholas met with the press to discuss the matter. He said Laborie police officers arrested Sinaise on Thursday, December 5. Originally from Vieux Fort, Sinaise was held at the Laborie station and on Saturday December 7 was formally charged with stealing and causing harm. “Some time in the afternoon,” said Nicholas, “he asked to use the bathroom. A few minutes later the officer went to check on him and found him hanging from a window in the bathroom. The major crime department has conduct of this investigation.”
Nicholas revealed that the prisoner had used “a piece of cord from his clothing” to commit suicide. As to why Sinaise was held at the Laborie station, Nicholas explained that the Vieux Fort police station in Beanefield had been relocated to Clarke Street due to mould. The new location has no cell accommodation. Consequently, individuals arrested by the police have to be held in cells at Laborie, Micoud or Choiseul. On November 22, Vieux Fort resident Michael Blaze was arrested and taken to the Choiseul station. Reportedly released two days later, he has not been seen since.
In response to widespread criticism related to the Sinaise suicide, Nicholas said: “Once an arrest is made, certain procedures are followed. I won’t go into whether or not such procedure was in this case adhered to. The lead investigator has assured me that by the end of this week he will have completed his inquiries, at which time I will make the appropriate announcements.”
On October 23, 2013 police prisoner Chakadan Daniel allegedly hanged himself while in police custody at the Micoud station. Almost two years later an inquest determined otherwise.
