[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ast week the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force fingered one of its own as a person of interest in relation to the death of Kimberly William-De Leon. By police definition, a person of interest is someone who can assist the police in their investigations of a particular incident. Such a person may be suspected of involvement but for lack of evidence has not been arrested and charged. A suspect, as defined by the police, is someone they have reasonable grounds to believe has committed a particular offence.
Last Tuesday, the acting police commissioner, Dorian O’Brian, stated at a press conference that there had been disputes reported by the deceased Kimberly William-De Leon. This shocking declaration generated several questions among journalists as to why the current person of interest in a case of homicide had not earlier been arrested.
While O’Brian was careful not to use the phrase “domestic violence,” it was a different matter with the disseminators of social media rumormongers. Their dispatches included naked accusations of domestic violence, obscenities and published photographs of the deceased and her husband. The police say there were no reports of domestic violence, but that anything, from obscenities and insults, can be classified as “domestic incidents” and are punishable according to the Criminal Code. The same applies to the media, and wannabe social media Bob Woodwards.
Following a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, Kimberly’s brother, Wayne St. Ange, spoke with this reporter. He said: “It’s normal for people to assume what they want.” As for the allegations of domestic violence, he dismissed them as rumours. “That part I prefer if you not put in the newspaper. But it was just rumours, I can tell you that. It was just verbal confrontation, that’s all. Not anything physical. It was just man and woman talk; just quarrelling.” As to whether he believes these “confrontations” could have led to his sister’s death, St. Ange said: “I’m hoping not. I don’t want to point fingers at anyone. I wasn’t there and I’m definitely not going to make any connections.”
St. Ange said that some of the family were interviewed by the police but, as for himself, he stopped co-operating with them. “It was something that was said to me and I wasn’t too pleased. So I guess, basically, I kind of cut off the conversation.” Asked what that something was, before he could answer, his relatives at the vigil pulled him away. Kimberly’s neighbours meanwhile were telling reporters they had heard up to seven shots on the night of October 30. On the other hand, a post-mortem report states that Kimberly died from a single shot to her head. According to relatives, Kimberly was found in her bedroom in a pool of blood. It’s not clear whether her two young children were near her when she was shot or whether they witnessed what happened to their mother.
At time of writing the police have not identified a suspect. Neither have they identified another person of interest. Their most recent related statement: “After completely examining this person we may come up with suspect or suspects. The investigation is going so far so good.” Rosemary Anthony, best known as Rosie, was reportedly found dead in Castries on October 11, 2018. She was 54 and generally referred to as a vagrant. By month end many were worried she might have been sexually violated, then killed. Among the more conspicuously concerned were the Saint Lucia Labour Party Women’s Organization (SLPWO), which issued on October 30 the following statement by its president Delia Ashby: “I would also like to draw your attention to the brutal rape and beating of Rosie, one of our transient citizens. Rosie has since succumbed to the many injuries she suffered on that dreadful evening.”
On October 18 the police reported the findings of a post-mortem on Rosemary Anthony: No signs of violence. No indication of sexual contact or force, only a wound on her head that could have resulted from falling when she suffered the heart attack that killed her. There has been no related further word from SLPWO. Also in October, a young woman reportedly walked up to a complete stranger in Castries, who turned out to be an employee of the Castries City Council, and claimed to be a victim of human trafficking and sexual abuse. TV and online news bulletins indicated she was brought by an unidentified person or persons to Saint Lucia while sedated. Reportedly the CCC employee referred her to the police.
In relation to the unconfirmed human trafficking case, the SLPWO president stated: “To be captured, transported and used for the pleasures of demented individuals is the nightmare of every woman, not just in St. Lucia but in every country around the world . . . this plague is a nightmare of women everywhere. I urge the relevant authorities to ensure that these matters are investigated thoroughly in an effort to reinstate the confidence of the populace in the police force and the rule of law in our country.”
Police sources soon put Ms Ashby’s mind at ease when they announced the alleged victim of human traffickers was safely housed at the Bordelais Correctional Facility. At time of writing they had not learned much from the woman, whose mental condition is under analysis. In all events the police would like the interested public to understand that when it comes to matters under investigation there is only so much they can say without prejudicing the case one way or the other. Detailed daily updates can be counterproductive. The police also warn that dissemination of misinformation, by mouth or via the media, only makes their job that much more difficult.
