Bob Hathaway

Police believe they have finally solved the homicide of 66-year-old British national Robert ‘Bob’ Hathaway, about 10 months after his bloodied and lifeless body was found in his residence in Piat, Grand Riviere in Gros Islet.

Police said 22-year-old Elizabeth Jeanelle Volney of Ti Morne, Union was arrested last Friday (November 1) and charged on Saturday, (November 2) in connection with Hathaway’s death which was the first homicide for 2019.

Volney appeared in court on Monday (November 4) where she was ordered remanded at the Bordelais Correctional Facility until her next court date on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Police officials have told the media that despite the arrest, the investigation in Hathaway’s murder is ongoing, thanked the public for coming forward with information and encouraged them to continue.

According to a press release, officers from the Gros Islet Police Station responded “to a report of a suspicious death” at about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 13, and discovered Hathaway’s body at his residence in Piat, Grand Riviere with “apparent wounds”.

In 2001 Hathaway sailed to Saint Lucia and built a home, and founded a business — Marigot Sunshine Ltd. — several years later.

According to Hathaway’s Facebook account, he was divorced, studied engineering at University of Cambridge, and hailed originally from Codford Saint Peter, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

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Castries Mayor Peterson Francis (left) and Victor Maurice

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Office of the Mayor and the Castries Constituency Council are saddened by the shooting of Councillor Victor Maurice on Sunday night.

Councillor Maurice, a popular nut vendor, has served the Castries Constituency Council for many years.

He is well-known as a hard-working advocate for council’s policies, proficient in all his undertakings, and a friend to all.

Councillor Maurice has been serving as a councillor since his swearing-in on August 2, 2016.

We hope that the police investigation brings closure to this incident and that the culprit/culprits are brought to justice.

At this time, we continue to pray for his family as we wish for a full and speedy recovery.

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Police Press Officer Ann Joseph (left) and stabbing victim Suave Walcott

Two individuals were arrested, ‘dangerous’ weapons seized, and four vehicles impounded during a Gros Islet police operation on Monday, November 4, Police Press Office Ann Joseph has said.

Joseph told reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 5 that the operation stemmed from the stabbing of a 20-year-old La Clery, Castries resident.

The stabbing victim has been identified as Sauve Walcott, according to law enforcement sources.

Walcott was stabbed multiple times while standing near the Gros Islet Catholic Church. He was attending the funeral of a motorcycle accident victim when he was attacked, according to reports.

He is currently in stable condition, according to reports. No one has been arrested.

Joseph said the two motorcycles were seized, seven ‘dangerous’ weapons seized such as knives and scissors, and four tickets issued.

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Miguel ‘Mad Max’ Edward

Saint Lucia police on Tuesday dispelled “various rumours” surrounding the fatal police shooting of Miguel ‘Mad Max’ Edward in the Rodney Bay Marina in Gros Islet on Saturday, November 2, 2019.

Edward was reportedly being sought by the lawmen in connection with an alleged attack on a 105-year-old woman in the north of the island when he was caught attempting to board a vessel destined for neighbouring Martinique.

Edward was shot after he allegedly pulled a weapon at the officers. He succumbed to his wounds at a hospital.

Reports on social media have claimed that in addition to being sought for the rape of the centenarian at 4 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, Edward was wanted for raping a sheep, attempted rape of a girl in Marisule, and attempted rape of another elderly in Grand Riviere, Gros Islet.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, police spokeswoman Corporal Ann Joseph said ‘Mad Max’ Edward was only wanted for questioning in connection with reports on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2 — and nothing prior.

“We would like to dispel various rumors that we’ve been hearing in relation to those reports,” Joseph said.

“These reports stemmed from the first of November 2019 and the second of November 2019.  Prior to reports that have reached us, there were no prior incidents where he was wanted for questioning or was identified as a formal suspect, prior to those dates. These were fresh matters that he was under investigation for. All previous matters that the police have any reason to have had him questioned for, have been dealt with,” she added.

According to MBC, in 2018 Edward was charged for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, a matter “already dispensed with” and that he was on bail for the offense of robbery with the use of a firearm in 2016, a matter which was before the courts until his death on November 2.

However, according to MBC, Edward was wanted in connection with attempted robbery, assault with a firearm and some sexual offenses. These matters arose between November 1 and November 2, according to reports.

Joseph meanwhile explained what occurred on the day — around noon — when Grand Riviere, Gros Islet resident was shot by the police.

“And on the second of November, officers were only seeking to apprehend him in relation to the matters which were reported on the first and second of November 2019… Leaving the Customs area at the port of entry and he attempted to evade arrest.

“Officers gave chase and were able to corner him but at that point, he withdrew a weapon and attempted to assault one of the two officers with that weapon. The officer discharged a round of ammunition in his direction and medical assistance was sought to treat his injuries. However, he succumbed at the Victoria Hospital,” the police spokeswoman said.

She was unable to say what type of weapon Edward allegedly brandished when he was shot by the police.

Investigations continue in the matter, Joseph said.

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Victor Maurice was shot shortly after arriving home in Balata on Sunday, November 3.

Victor Maurice, the popular nut vendor and councillor with the Castries Constituency Council who was shot and injured at his home in Balata, Castries on Sunday evening, November 3, is reportedly in stable condition.

Police spokeswoman Corporal Ann Joseph gave an update on Maurice’s medical condition at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 5.

“The last that I was briefed on, he is in stable condition at the Victoria Hospital. He is in the Intensive Care Unit. He has undergone surgery. And that matter is being investigated by CID in Castries,” she said.

She provided no further details on the case.

According to reports, Maurice, a confectionery vendor in Castries, had just arrived home in his vehicle, around 7:20 p.m. Sunday, when shots were fired at him from another vehicle.

The Office of the Mayor and the Castries Constituency Council said in a press release that they are “saddened” by the shooting of the councillor who has served the Council for many years.

“He is well-known as a hard-working advocate for council’s policies, proficient in all his undertakings, and a friend to all. Councillor Maurice has been serving as a councillor since his swearing-in on August 2, 2016. We hope that the police investigation brings closure to this incident and that the culprit/culprits are brought to justice. At this time, we continue to pray for his family as we wish for a full and speedy recovery,” the release stated.

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Police spokeswoman Corporal Ann Joseph

Saint Lucia police on Tuesday cleared the air regarding the alleged assault of a teacher in Belair on Saturday, November 2, 2019.

Police spokeswoman Corporal Ann Joseph said the teacher was injured during an attempted robbery — and not attempted rape.

A social media report states: “This incident just happened. A teacher was driving the Belair road where a guy came from the banana plantation and stood in the middle of the road. Because of poor road conditions, he knew she had to drive slowly in the potholes. While he wrestled with her for the keys, he held her throat and attempted to rape her. He had a knife and whilst the teacher was wrestling to save her life, she was stabbed.”

Not totally true, Joseph said.

“It has been reported that there was a sexual assault reported at Belair. That is actually not the case,” Joseph told reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“The report that was made to the Marigot Police Station was a report of an attempted robbery,” the press officer continued. “Nothing was taken from the victim.

“It did involve someone accosting a young lady in her motor vehicle in that area about 6 p.m. on the second of November 2019, but it was not of a sexual nature. She did sustain a laceration to one of her hands as well as to her upper lip, but there was no report of a sexual nature made to the police.”

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Cletus Hippolyte, aka ‘Banana Split’

Police said a woman who was held on suspicion of extortion in connection with the disappearance of 83-year-old Gros Islet resident Cletus Hippolyte, will not be charged.

Relatives said Hippolyte, also known as ‘Banana Split’, was last seen alive in the Gros-Islet area sometime between Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27.

The case took a mysterious twist about two weeks later when a male, claiming to have information about Hippolyte, took a number of items, including cash, from the missing man’s family, according to reliable sources.

The male made contact after telephone numbers of the missing man’s relatives were published in the media, sources said.

The male requested boat fuel, a cell phone, clothing, food, water, medication, and top-ups. He also requested that the items be dropped off at a location in Dennery.

A woman collected the items, including the cell phone, but days later leads went cold.

However, relatives were informed that a young female was arrested in Soufriere on suspicion of extortion after police tracked the cell phone the family provided, sources said.

Police Press Officer Corporal Ann Joseph told a press briefing on Tuesday that no charges would be laid against the Soufriere woman.

Investigations, however, continue into the elderly man’s disappearance.

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Elizabeth Jeanelle Volney (left) has been charged in connection with the killing of Robert ‘Bob’ Hathaway

Police spokeswoman Corporal Ann Joseph has thanked members of the public who have helped investigators charge a young woman in connection with the death of British national and longtime Saint Lucian resident Robert ‘Bob’ Hathaway who was found dead with stab wounds at his Piat, Grand Riviere home in Gros Islet nearly 10 months ago.

Joseph told a press briefing on Tuesday, November 5 that 22-year-old Elizabeth Jeanelle Volney of Ti Morne, Union was arrested and charged on Saturday, November 2, 2019, for “causing the death of Bob Hathaway”.

Volney appeared in court on Monday.

Hathaway was found dead in his apartment (one on the left) in January 2019

Volney was taken to court on Monday, November 4 and has since been remanded in police custody, Joseph told reporters.

“The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force obviously wishes to thank members of the public who were instrumental in these charges being preferred and encourage persons to continue providing us with information as it relates to any crime that may have occurred that you’re aware of,” Joseph said.

Volney has been remanded to prison

She was unable to say if there are other suspects in Hathaway’s homicide — the first for 2019.

Hathaway’s naked and lifeless body was discovered in his house on January 13, 2019, with multiple stab wounds, according to reports.

The British national reportedly moved to Saint Lucia in 2001, built a home and later started a business in the tourism industry.

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Police are investigating this morning’s arson incident at the Empire 758 Bar and Grill, located in Laborie along the Kennedy Highway. (SEE VIDEO BELOW STORY)

The Vieux Fort Fire Station responded to the call at 4:05 a.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, an emergency official told St. Lucia News Online.

No further details were immediately available.

The incident was caught on a security camera which is currently being reviewed by law enforcement officials, a source said.

In the video, two males wearing hoodies are seen throwing a liquid substance in the bar and setting it on fire.

A third person is seen for brief moments in the corner of the video.

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A resident of Forestiere, Castries was recently granted bail in connection with the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, police said.

Jonathan Herman, 38, was arrested on Marina Street in Gros Islet on November 2, 2019, at about 12:10 a.m., Police Press Officer, Corporal Ann Joseph told a press briefing on Tuesday.

Joseph did not specify the type of firearm recovered.

Herman was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 for the offense of possession of a firearm without a valid license and $2,000 for possession of ammunition without a valid license when he appeared in the First District Court, Joseph said.

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Suave Walcott

A 20-year-old man who was attacked and stabbed while attending the funeral of motorcycle accident victim Jn Marie Evariste is currently in stable condition, Police Press Officer, Corporal Ann Joseph said this week.

Law enforcement sources have identified the stabbing victim as Suave Walcott.

Joseph said the victim, a resident of La Clery, Castries, sustained stab wounds to his back on Monday, November 4, 2019.

“The injuries were not life-threatening,” Joseph said, adding that the victim “has to undergo surgery”.

According to reports, Joseph was standing near the St. Joseph the Worker Church in Gros Islet when he was attacked by a known individual and stabbed multiple times in the back.

Joseph told reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday that the suspect is known to the police however an arrest has not been made.

Immediately following the stabbing, Gros Islet police carried out a massive operation which resulted in two individuals being arrested for tickets issued, seven dangerous weapons including knives and scissors confiscated, and four vehicles, including two motorcycles, impounded, Joseph said.

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Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security, Senator Hermangild Francis

(PRESS RELEASE) — The Department of Home Affairs and National Security hosted the seventh session of the Franco-Saint Lucian Joint Security Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

The Franco-Saint Lucia Security Commission came about on March 5, 2004, in order to organize cooperation between the two neighboring islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique.

The Committee was formed to provide a link with the government of Saint Lucia, the Embassy of France in Castries, and the Prefecture of the Region Martinique in Fort de France.

The objectives include organizing and addressing shared issues relating to maritime security, extraditions, human and drug trafficking, natural disasters, risk management, and the promotion of judicial cooperation.

Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security, Senator Hermangild Francis, said Saint Lucia needed to discuss a number of priority issues with the French.

Among the subject matters to be discussed are safety at sea, immigration and border control, and judicial cooperation.

The meeting was held at the Finance Administrative Center in Pointe Seraphine.

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A senior citizen was hospitalised after he was attacked and beaten at his home in an alleged robbery attempt on Thursday afternoon, November 7, according to law enforcement sources.

Richard Edgard, 76, of Entrepot, Castries, sustained “facial trauma” and was transported by Castries fire personnel to Victoria Hospital in stable condition, an official told St. Lucia News Online.

The Saint Lucia Fire Service was contacted at 2:30 p.m., the official said

According to another source, three males went to the victim’s home to rob him and “buss up all the man face”.

The perpetrators reportedly escaped in a “white SX4”, the source added.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of the health centre in Independence City, Entrepot, according to reports.

No further details were available.

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A fisherman was stabbed in Canaries on Friday afternoon, according to reliable sources.

The victim has been identified as Henzlee James, who is now a patient at St. Jude Hospital.

Emergency officials said that at 5:29 p.m. the Canaries police contacted the Soufriere fire station which transported James to Soufriere Hospital.

The victim was later transferred to St. Jude Hospital.

According to reports, the victim was initially admitted to hospital in critical condition, but his current status is unclear.

No further details were available.

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A male individual has been remanded at the Anse La Raye Police Station in connection with the theft of a cow, according to a law enforcement official.

The individual is reportedly one of several persons who were initially taken into police custody Thursday evening in connection with the theft of the animal, the official said.

St. Lucia News Online understands that the suspect in custody has not been charged and his fate depends on the cow owner’s decision to press charges or not.

The matter is also being investigated by the Praedial Larceny Unit, according to the official.

A two-minute video of the arrest has been uploaded on social media.

It shows two young males and the cow being escorted by an armed police officer, and a police van.

According to the commentator in the video, the incident occurred in Millet.

No further details were available.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.

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Screenshots of the fight.

A 30-second video of a fight between a group of schoolgirls in uniform and two women at a popular fast food outlet in Castries has gone viral.

The incident reportedly occurred at the Domino’s Pizza branch at the William Peter Boulevard.

It is not clear when the incident occurred.

St. Lucia News Online received the video on Friday, November 8, 2019.

A law enforcement source said the police, particularly the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has not received any reports on the incident as of November 6.

In the video, a male in Domino’s uniform tries to part the fight, unsuccessfully. BELOW IS THE VIDEO (be advised that the video contains expletives and can be disturbing to some people).

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A 51-year-old woman and her 27-year-old daughter have broken their silence on a viral video in which they fight with several schoolgirls in the city of Castries. (SEE VIDEO BELOW STORY)

The women, who are from Castries but did not want their names disclosed, told St. Lucia News Online that the incident occurred on Friday, November 8, 2019, at the Domino’s Pizza branch at the William Peter Boulevard.

At around 3 p.m., the mother said she and her daughter were sitting inside the fast-food outlet, waiting on an order, when she noticed something disturbing happening among a group of Ciceron Secondary School students, just outside the entrance of the business.

The mother, who was in a greenish dress, said she noticed a Form One female student being bullied by four other Form-Four female students.

She further told our newsroom that it appeared as if the older students were demanding something from the younger student, and because she came up empty-handed, one of the girls slapped the first former in the face and the other slapped her in the back of the head.

The first-former ran inside the pizza joint to escape her attackers. The 51-year-old woman further told St. Lucia News Online that it was at this point that she intervened because she is very much against bullying.

She said she argued with the older ones that what they did was not right and she encouraged the first-former to “hit them back”.

She said by the time she finished that sentence a “fat” female student attacked her physically. The mother said she responded by biting and punching the schoolgirl in self-defense.

Her 27-year-old daughter, who was dressed in a multi-coloured striped tights and white top, said she got up and defended her mother while trying to separate the fight. However, the situation escalated when the other schoolgirls got involved, ganging up on the mother and daughter.

Screenshots of the fight.

The mother admitted that her daughter threw a chair at one of the schoolgirls, but in self-defense. However, this resulted in the girls ganging up on her daughter more, holding her down by the hair.

The mother said she was about to pull the girls off her daughter when a male Domino’s employee cautioned her to avoid escalating the situation. By that time, the girls released her daughter’s hair and ran outside, and away from the business establishment.

Four police officers arrived on the scene soon after to investigate the matter, according to the women.

It was during this time, the officers and the women were able to discover the root of the bullying.

According to them, the first-former disclosed that every day the four older girls, at least one of them, would ask her for money, and if she does not have any money, she would be attacked and beaten.

“When it comes to bullying I will stop it…. my daughter is the same,” said the mother in the fight video, adding that the first-former looks like someone from a poor household based on how she was attired.

“This bullying thing in Saint Lucia, it needs to stop,” she said, adding that she has intervened in similar situations before, to aid victims of bullying.

She told St. Lucia News Online that the first-former told her she did not have to defend her but thanked her, hugged her and cried. She said the young girl is fearful of taking the matter further in fear of being attacked again.

As such, the women said the police promised to visit the school on Monday to investigate and address the issue. The mother and daughter said they too plan to visit the school Monday as well as to give their side of the story.

The mother said next time if she tries to stop a bully and she is attacked, she “swears on her son’s grave” that it will be taken further. She reiterated that bullying is too prevalent in Saint Lucia and it needs to stop.

The daughter told our newsroom that she and her mother did not sustain any injuries, but they are more concerned about the first-former.

The daughter also pointed out that people have been saying things on social media that they know nothing about.

She said she and her mother would never just go about fighting and beating children for no reason — they were simply defending a poor child when they were attacked and they responded in self-defense.

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The victim’s car was damaged during the attack.

A bar manager narrowly escaped death after he came under attack by gunmen in Jetrine, Saltibus early Saturday morning, November 9.

Sanderson Serville, 29, manager of Anchor Bar, told St. Lucia News Online that he was driving home when three gunshots were fired at his vehicle, at around 3 a.m.

In a bid to escape, Serville said his car rolled down a “valley”.

He managed to get out of the vehicle and away from his attackers who eventually stole monies from his damaged car.

He is currently receiving treatment at St. Jude Hospital for minor injuries. He said an x-ray revealed that he tore tissues in his “ribs area”. He also received cuts and bruises.

The manager further explained what happened in detail this morning.

“The guys blocked the road with logs on my way down. I couldn’t cross the bridge. I tried reversing but they end up coming down behind me and started firing gunshots at me,” he explained.

At this point, Serville said he panicked and drove into a muddy area where he got stuck.

“I tried going forward which led me down a valley. My car flipped twice and landed in the valley.”

He said he “burst” through the car window, sustaining cuts to his hands in the process “while they were still firing shots”.

“I made my way through a bush to get home, leaving the monies and everything behind,” he told St. Lucia News Online.

Serville said he is “clueless” as to why someone would want to hurt him. He believes the motive was robbery.

“Most likely is for money,” he told St. Lucia News Online.

“I have no problem with anyone,” he said, adding that this was the first time he experienced such a situation.

The Laborie Police Station is investigating the incident, a police official has confirmed.

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A 76-year-old businessman has been hospitalised after he was shot during a robbery in Mon Repos, Micoud on Saturday evening, November 9, 2019, according to law enforcement officials.

The businessman has been identified as Andrew Joseph.

Officials told St. Lucia News Online that the shooting occurred when two individuals held up his shop at gunpoint.

Officials said Joseph sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and he was transported to St. Jude Hospital in stable condition.

The businessman’s wife and another female were in the shop at the time but they were not harmed, according to reports.

The Micoud Fire Station received the call at 7:15 p.m., officials said.

No further details were available.

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A 76-year-old businessman who was shot after a robbery in Mon Repos, Micoud last Saturday, has died, according to reliable sources.

Andrew Joseph, also known as Mr. Moweng, passed away at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 11.

Sources say Joseph was shot after two individuals attempted to rob his shop.

He sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and had been hospitalised in critical condition.

Sources say the bullet was lodged in his abdomen.

According to reports, the businessman’s wife and a female worker were in the shop at the time of the robbery.

It is further reported that Joseph was sitting on his balcony, which is adjacent to the shop, when he was shot by the perpetrators as they fled — empty-handed.

The Micoud Fire Station received the call at 7:15 p.m.

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