News that the wife of a ranking police officer and mother of two young children had been fatally shot at her Morne residence on the night of October 29, 2018 shook Saint Lucians to their core. Even more shocking were several revelations at a police press conference the next morning, including that investigators into the suspected murder were treating Kimberly De Leon’s husband, Leozandrae, as “a person of interest”.
Since then, police information concerning the shooting has been contradictory, at best. Finally, reporters, as well as Kimberly’s mother Mary Williams, were told the De Leon file was with the Director of Public Prosecutions while the police awaited instructions.Few Saint Lucians, least of all Ms Williams, could’ve anticipated last week’s news that the once upon a time “person of interest” had filed defamation lawsuits against the police, a well-known radio personality, his employers, and a so-called political activist and regular contributor to Facebook. From the onset Mary Williams had been demanding accountability from the authorities. The reported action by the deceased Kimberly’s husband is of little concern to her family, Williams said. Their major concern remains unchanged: justice for their dearly departed.
Since the October 2018 incident Kimberly’s two children have been living with their grandmother. Their father is seeking legal custody. Meanwhile he is permitted to see his young son and daughter just once a week. As for Williams’ reaction to her son-in-law’s claim that there is no legal reason why his children should not be permitted to return with him to their family home, no strings attached, she declared: “Over my dead body!” She added that she has every reason to believe her grandchildren will be safer with her. “They’re trying to cope,” she said, “but the girl cries a lot for her mother. She misses Kimberly. When we ask her what she would like for Christmas, she always says she only wants her mother back. That says a lot.”
Williams said it had been some time since she spoke with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Daarsrean Greene, but is hopeful they can meet early in the new year. She is planning to organise protest demonstrations as part of her campaign for justice on behalf of her deceased daughter. “It’s not easy coping with the loss of my daughter,” said Williams, “and the authorities aren’t helping. Kimberly did not deserve to die as she did. Her children don’t deserve what they’re going through. This is something no one gets over. However, I have to be strong for the children and to continue fighting for justice in their name.” She paused, sighed. “I will find justice. No ifs or buts. There must be justice for Kimberly. I owe her that!”
In 2015 officer De Leon reported to the prime minister and the Public Service Commission a conversation with his commissioner, during which De Leon was warned his life was in imminent danger. Also, that the commissioner had told De Leon he could not guarantee his safety, with fellow officers associated with the IMPACS investigation convinced he was ratting on them to the Kenny Anthony government. De Leon claimed his requests for special protection were denied!
