The victim of the chopping incident.

A male was injured during a chopping incident in the southern community of Piaye, Quarter of Laborie, on Saturday evening, November 21.

Reports are that the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m.

The victim, known as Martin, was chopped by a known male.

One of the victim’s fingers was partially severed and he reportedly sustained wounds to his arms.

At the time of posting this report the suspect was reportedly still on the run. The victim was taken to hospital but his condition is unknown at this time.

No further details are available at this time.

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A woman was stabbed during an altercation at a popular night club in Rodney Bay, Gros-Islet between late Friday and early Saturday.

The injured woman is so far known as Melissa.

It is alleged that Melissa and another male got into an altercation when she was injured.

The injured woman’s condition is unknown at this time.

There are numerous conflicting reports, one indicating that a male was also stabbed during the incident.

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A video of man chopping a man mercilessly on a main road in southern Saint Lucia has been published on social media.

Reports are that the video is that of an incident that occurred on Saturday night (Nov. 21) when a young male, known so far as Martin, was chopped multiple times by another male in Piaye, Laborie.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. The male was hospitalised but his condition is unknown at this time. It is not yet clear if the attacker, who reportedly fled the scene, was caught and arrested.

Martin reportedly sustained defensive wounds to his arm, including a partially severed ‘pinky finger’.

In the 16-second video obtained by St. Lucia News Online, a male is seen chopping another male, who is on the ground trying to block the blows with his arms. He eventually got to his feet but the attacker continued to rain blows on him with a machete.

Three barking dogs surrounded the duo amid the sound of screams from an unseen female, heard in the background. A third person intervened, seemingly in an effort to rescue the victim.

A black vehicle slowed almost to a stop alongside the two men during the chopping.

A male could be seen watching the incident from a balcony.

The video was published on Instagram and Facebook.

The Laborie Police Station has confirmed that the incident occurred but could not provide further information.

BELOW IS THE VIDEO. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

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Police sources say a man who died in Fond Assau, Babonneau Sunday evening (Nov. 23) is investigating reports that the victim ingested a poisonous substance by mistake.

Stanislaus Justin aka Shat, 48, was found at his Fond Assau residence by a neighbour at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. He showed signs of life and the ambulance was called. However, he succumbed shortly after.

A senior police official said an autopsy scheduled to be done this week will determine the cause of death, however in the meantime investigators are treating his case with an “open mind”

The source added that Justin is reported to have ingested liquid from a coke bottle, thinking it was a “chaser” in alcohol, but the liquid turned out to be a “weedicide”.

Despite this lead, the source said the case could be treated as a homicide or suspicious death.

Justin was a construction worker and father of four children. Originally from Millet, he moved to Babonneau some 10 years ago, according to relatives.

Justin at the scene.

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Police have disclosed that the suspect in Saturday’s vicious chopping in Piaye, Laborie is still at large.

Acting Superintendent George Nicholas told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (Nov. 23) that the victim is Martin Manley, who is still at St. Jude Hospital in Vieux-Fort.

Nicholas said the perpetrator is known.

On Sunday, a day after the incident, a 16-second video surfaced on social media of Mathurin being mercilessly chopped on the road by a male.

The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

A Piaye resident alleged that a heated argument over a female turned physical – and bloody.

“The story is that Martin confronted the suspect about an issue with Martin’s female friend. During the confrontation I heard words were exchanged and Martin slapped (the suspect), though some people say the man throw the first strike. However, the suspect went for his machete and started chopping Martin,” a resident told SNO.

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PRESS RELEASE – On Monday, November 23, 2015 about 5:20 p.m. officers attached to the Traffic Unit were on mobile patrol in Balata, Babonneau area when they signaled motor car registration number PJ 5391 to stop.

The driver of the said vehicle complied and brought the vehicle to a halt. There were three occupants in the vehicle.

Police Constable 821 Palmer then proceeded to issue a ticket to the driver of the said vehicle for driving without a seatbelt.

During the issuance of the ticket, the front seated passenger reached under his seat and withdrew a firearm which he aimed at Palmer.

The driver of the motor car then sped off. The Police gave chase but was unable to apprehend the suspects.

Investigations are continuing into this matter.

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98. GRIEVOUS HARM

(1) A person who intentionally causes grievous harm to another is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 10 years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for 3 years.

(2) Any person who recklessly causes grievous harm to another is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment to 5 years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for one year.

99. MAIM OR DANGEROUS HARM

(1) A person who intentionally causes a maim or any dangerous harm to any other person is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 20 years or on summary conviction for 5 years.

(2) A person who recklessly causes a maim or any dangerous harm to another is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 10 years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for 3 years.

(3) In this section—

“Dangerous harm” means harm endangering life;

“Maim” means the destruction or permanent disabling of any external or internal organ, limb or faculty.

“We, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to encourage the citizenry to read and study the laws which governs our society. Never forget that knowledge is power”.

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A video-still image of the chopping. The victim is on the ground.

Police have arrested the suspect in Saturday’s vicious chopping in Piaye, Laborie.

Acting Superintendent George Nicholas told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (Nov. 24) that the suspect, a young male, was arrested this morning and will “most likely” be charged tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 25.

The victim, Martin Mathurin, who is still at St. Jude Hospital in Vieux-Fort, was chopped multiple times by a male assailant during an altercation. A photo obtained by SNO showed Mathuring in a pool of blood with a partially severed ‘pinky’ finger.

Eyewitnesses said the victim sustained multiple wounds the arms and fingers, and other parts of the body, while trying to block the attacker’s lashes with the machete.

Nicholas said the suspect’s charges will depend on the extent of the victim’s injuries from the medical report. Nicholas said the charges could range from grievous harm to attempted murder.

On Sunday, a day after the incident, a 16-second video surfaced on social media of Mathurin being mercilessly chopped on the road by a male.

The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

A Piaye resident alleged that a heated argument over a female turned physical – and bloody.

“The story is that Martin confronted the suspect about an issue with Martin’s female friend. During the confrontation I heard words were exchanged and Martin slapped (the suspect), though some people say the man throw the first strike. However, the suspect went for his machete and started chopping Martin,” a resident told SNO.

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GIS – The Regional Security System (RSS) and the UK have joined forces to set up an Asset Recovery Unit to tackle organized crime and corruption.

The Asset Recovery Unit will be based at the RSS headquarters in Barbados, and will support the RSS in building sustainable regional capacity in asset recovery.

The Unit is being funded by the UK’s development agency, the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID has committed 2.4 million pounds as part of its 17 million anti-corruption program for the region.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the RSS and DFID was signed on 19 November. Grantley Watson, executive director of the RSS, and Colleen Wainwright, head of DFID Caribbean were signatories to the agreement.

Watson said the region is negatively impacted by violence arising from drug trafficking and the asset recovery unit will help countries confiscate criminals’ assets, reducing their influence and power.

Wainwright said the UK recognizes the importance of security and the rule of law in helping the countries of the region to develop.

The unit, which opens on Dec. 1, will take over from the DFID-funded Caribbean criminal assets recovery program (CCARP), based within the British High Commission. CCARP was engaged in raising the capacity and capability of practitioners including financial investigators, prosecutors, magistrates and judges, by providing them with the knowledge and skills to recover the assets from those engaged in serious crimes.

The asset recovery unit will continue CCARP’s work of promoting and strengthening legislation throughout the region to tackle the proceeds of crime. It will lobby for the establishment of a dedicated forfeiture fund to provide additional resources for law enforcement agencies, for the criminal justice system, for victim compensation and for community projects keeping youngsters off the streets.

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Sahab Jamshidi

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR – A Hamilton man charged with the death of a child in St. Lucia will spend the holidays on the Caribbean island, with his next court date set for late January.

Sahab Jamshidi, 34, was in court Monday where he pleaded not guilty, his sister says, and the case was put over until the new year.

Jamshidi was charged in the drowning death of a local four-year-old boy, T.J. Elibox, in March. In May, a high court judge ruled that Jamshidi will face trial in the case.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY

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PRESS RELEASE – Organisers of the anti-violence walk, Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia, are reporting that all is in place for the walk which takes place from 2:00pm Wednesday November 25th, 2015 starting at Serenity Park, Sans Souci.

All approvals have been received; the infrastructure set up and no major hiccups are anticipated. Speaking on the public reaction to the march, members of the organisation has noted “We have been overwhelmed by the level of support and interest which we have been receiving and look forward to a formidable walk.

We have not heard the word no from any individual or company which we have approached for help. We have to single out the Castries City Council, the Police, corporate and individual sponsors who immediately responded to our various requests for assistance.

The schools, civil society groups, business houses and the public service have all indicated that they will be there in large numbers to lend their voice to the efforts to end sexual assault, abuse and violence against women and children.

We have arranged for the distribution of T-shirts, banners and posters at Serenity Park and plan on a uniform and peaceful demonstration in our call for an end to rape, domestic violence and child abuse. The walk will take place around the city of Castries and culminate at the Derek Walcott Square with a short but substantive programme which will include solidarity messages, pledges from the persons from all walks of life and the unveiling of the Raise Your Voice Jingle.

A major component of the event will be the presentation of the Raise Your Voice Declaration which sets out its agenda to advocate for a safer environment where children and women can grow and achieve their full potential.

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(l-r) – Elaine Coper, Steadroy Walwyn, Levi Archibald. * Photo credit: St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

ST. KITTS & NEVIS OBSERVER – A female from Newtown, Basseterre (St. Kitts) is facing charges for allegedly importing over 1 kilo of cocaine into the country in her luggage.

Special Services Unit (SSU), the Anti- Narcotic Unit and other law enforcement agencies carried out a joint operation Sunday evening (Nov 22) starting at the RL Bradshaw Airport.

The Observer was reliably informed that Newtown resident Elaine Cooper arrived in St. Kitts from St. Lucia after 9 pm and was picked up by Steadroy Walwyn of Buckleys, the brother of former Police Commissioner CG Walwyn.

Reports are that she gave him a suitcase which he took to his house on Walwyn Avenue.

“A search warrant was executed on the premises for possession of controlled drugs, firearms and ammunition. During the search, 1.22 kilos of cocaine was discovered in a false compartment within a suitcase,” a police press release notified Monday (Nov 23). The drugs were valued at an estimated EC$103,000.

Cooper was taken into custody along with a Trafalgar man, Levi Archibald; and Walwyn. All three were in the house during the search and seizure.

Police say all three “are expected to be charged in connection with the incident”.

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A post mortem examination done yesterday (Nov. 24) on 48-year-old Stanislaus Justin, aka Shat, who reportedly drank a poisonous substance by accident, has revealed that his death was caused by “respiratory failure/respiratory muscle paralysis due to “toxic ingestion”.

No foul play is suspect “at this time” based on the post mortem results and information gleaned from recorded statements, reliable sources have told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

“There is no reason to suspect at this time that it’s a homicide, but we are still conducting further investigations,” one of the sources told SNO on Wednesday.

SNO understands that samples from Justin’s body are likely to be sent for further testing against the substance found in the bottle that he drank.

After drinking from the bottle, Justin reportedly began to cough before collapsing in the yard of his Fond Assau house at about 6:30 p.m. last Sunday. He was pronounced dead after an ambulance came to his aid.

Neighbours and relatives have told SNO that Justin is reported to have ingested liquid from a ‘coke’ bottle, thinking it was a “chaser” in alcohol, but the liquid turned out to be a “weedicide”.

Police sources confirmed that a ‘coke’ bottle with substance was retrieved from the area Justin collapsed.

Justin was a construction worker and father of four children.

He was originally from Millet,  but moved to Babonneau some 10 years ago, according to relatives.

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Police are investigating a chopping incident that occurred in Dennery Valley today, Nov. 25.

The Richfond Police Station confirmed that they are investigating a report that a man was wounded, but could not provide further information at this time because details are sketchy.

However, a source told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the victim, 49-year-old Philip Constantine of a Dennery address, was chopped in the neck and rushed to surgery around midday today.

The man’s condition is unknown at this time.

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Two men who were reportedly wanted in connection with the alleged assault on a police officer during a traffic stop in Balata, Babonneau on Monday, November 23, 215 were arrested during a live show on a local television station, police sources have confirmed.

The men reportedly appeared on MBC’s morning show with Yardie and Jahheim Wednesday morning to give their side of the story when the cops appeared and whisked them away, sources say.

The duo are not charged as yet, sources say.

According to a press release, “on Monday, November 23, 2015, at about 5:20 p.m. officers attached to the Traffic Unit were on mobile patrol in Balata, Babonneau area when they signaled motor car, registration number PJ 5391, to stop.

“The driver of the said vehicle complied and brought the vehicle to a halt. There were three occupants in the vehicle. Police Constable 821 Palmer then proceeded to issue a ticket to the driver of the said vehicle for driving without a seatbelt.

“During the issuance of the ticket, the front seated passenger reached under his seat and withdrew a firearm which he aimed at Palmer. The driver of the motor car then sped off. The police gave chase but was unable to apprehend the suspects,” the press release stated.

However, the men denied the police’s version of events.

They claimed that they fled out of fear of being killed based on how suspicious the lawmen appeared: conversing with each other in a tight group. The duo also claimed that the police shot at them, evidence which can be found on the car.

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Joseph (left) being escorted by a Guyana police officer. * Photo credit: iNews Guyana

INEWS GUYANA – A St. Lucian national appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Thursday, November 26, 2015, charged with the offense of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The court heard that on November 21, 26-year-old Kendall Joseph, had in his possession 480 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. At the time, he was an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International, bound for the United Kingdom.

He was stopped and questioned by ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) after he was observed acting in a suspicion manner. He was later taken to a city hospital where an X-ray revealed the 45 pellets in his stomach.

Joseph, a father of one, pleaded guilty with an explanation to the offense. He told the court he was forced to ingest the pellets filled with cocaine.

Magistrate Azore, taking into consideration the defendant’s guilty plea and street value of the drugs, fined Joseph $1.2M and sentenced him to three years in prison.

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The victim of the chopping incident.

Police have formally charged a man in connection with the gruesome chopping of Martin Mathurin in Piaye, Laborie last Saturday.

Jonathan Isaac, 36, was charged with maiming, which is a more serious charge than wounding, Acting Superintendent George Nicholas told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (Nov. 26).

Isaac was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and charged the following day, Nicholas said.

The victim is reportedly still in hospital being treated for multiple chop wounds.

A photo obtained by SNO showed Mathurin in a pool of blood with a partially severed ‘pinky’ finger.

Eyewitnesses said the victim sustained multiple wounds the arms and fingers, and other parts of the body, while trying to block the attacker’s lashes with the machete.

On Sunday, a day after the incident, a 16-second video surfaced on social media of Mathurin being mercilessly chopped on the road by a male.

The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

A Piaye resident alleged that a heated argument over a female turned physical – and bloody.

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A man known as ‘Pimp Juice’ is wanted by the Richfond Police for allegedly chopping a man in the neck in Dennery earlier this week, a senior police officer has told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

Reports are that on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, between 9:30 a.m. an 10 a.m., the victim, 49-year-old Felix Constantine also known as Gee Can and Phillip, was allegedly involved in a dispute/altercation with another man known as Pimp Juice, when he sustained a serious laceration to the neck.

The incident occurred in Gadette, Dennery.

Constantine, who was scheduled to do surgery around midday Wednesday, is reportedly still in hospital.

The assailant, who is known to the police and his victim, is still at large. He is reported to be from Gadette, while the victim is reported to be from Aux Lyon.

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PRESS RELEASE – On Friday, November 27, 2015 the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force through its Police Week Committee, visited various retired police officers, whom through illness are confined to their homes.

The retired officers were given food hampers and had the opportunity to converse with Acting Police Commissioner Errol Alexander and other members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

This activity is held in observance of Police Week 2015. Through this activity, the Royal Saint Lucia Police seeks to support the men and women who gave years of service to their country.

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