Melissa Joseph, who is charged with fatally stabbing Joseph Herman, appeared in the Gros Islet Court today, Jan. 11, 2016.
Joseph, 32, was formally charged with murder. She was remanded in prison until Feb. 11.
Herman, 45, was admitted to the Victoria Hospital on Thursday, December 31, 2015 after sustaining multiple stab wounds to the body on Jeremie Street, Castries, but succumbed to his injuries on Friday, January 1, 2016.
Both Joseph and Herman are from Capitol Hill, Castries.
Jacky Robert
The woman whose companion was stabbed on Old Year’s night on Jeremie Street and later succumbed to his injuries while in hospital, has said she wants justice in the matter.
Jacky Robert told the media today (Jan 11) that Melissa Joseph deserves the full penalty of the law, reiterating that she is afraid for her life, since the men who accompanied the murder accused are on the loose.
Robert said the court has failed her family once and they can fail them again, if Joseph and her alleged accomplices are not placed behind bars soon. “They failed us once and they can fail us again,” she stated.
The woman’s aunt, Flora Verneuil, also told the media that the other alleged attackers were seen in Castries eating, drinking and smoking “as if they had no care in the world.”
Robert said she is aware that Joseph’s boyfriend was one of the four men that were involved in the fight, which later led to her boyfriend’s demise and said she was told that they are eyewitnesses to the matter.
The distraught woman told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the issue between her, her boyfriend and Roberts started many years ago, over the couple stopping Joseph from taking their water.
Jacky told SNO that at one time, they were neighbours with Joseph, and she and her boyfriend would allow her to go into their house and full containers of water, but when they stopped her, it became an issue.
She said ever since then, the murder accused kept harassing them at their home and everywhere they were seen. It became so unbearable that they were forced to call the police on countless occasions.
This proved ineffective and the matter was then placed before the courts, where it remained for 9 years. Roberts was eventually issued with a restraining order, but this didn’t stop her from creating trouble.
Roberts said she lost a good partner and her two children lost a great father.
St. Lucia police during a patrol. * Photo credit: Telesurv.
PRESS RELEASE – The Government of Saint Lucia took a commendable initial step in 2014 by inviting CARICOM’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) to conduct an investigation into allegations that members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force committed extra-judicial killings from 2010 to 2011.
Unfortunately, progress on pursuing justice in these killings halted after the report’s issuance in March 2015. Despite the significance of the IMPACS report for human rights, national security concerns, and Saint Lucia’s international reputation, the Government of Saint Lucia has made no meaningful progress towards criminal prosecution in 10 months.
The Embassy of the United States of America to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, therefore, urges the Government of St. Lucia to ensure the rule of law is upheld. We are concerned that four years have passed since these allegations of human rights violations first surfaced and due process is yet to be served.
We respect Saint Lucia’s separation of powers, but emphasize the entire government’s role in guaranteeing that each branch has the tools and resources to fulfill its commitments to the rule of law. That said, the Director of Public Prosecutions made a disappointing announcement in November that her office was not provided sufficient resources or the report’s investigative files, thus precluding furthering criminal prosecution.
We encourage the Saint Lucian Government to activate the promised implementation oversight committee under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship. Such a committee could serve to ensure that the entire government is working effectively together to achieve due process.
We applaud the Saint Lucian Government’s approval in September of a reformed “Use of Force” policy that guides security forces to protect both national security and human rights. We praise the participation of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force in human rights training courses. However, these measures alone are not sufficient for Saint Lucia to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law.
The Embassy of the United States of America to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean encourages the Government of Saint Lucia to take all available measures to guarantee the rule of law is upheld. We stand by our offer to assist Saint Lucia’s efforts to ensure due process in the framework of Saint Lucia’s criminal justice system.
A clear demonstration of the Government of Saint Lucia’s commitment to the rule of law would benefit the people of Saint Lucia as well as Saint Lucia’s international standing as a trusted, democratic partner in economic and security cooperation.
PRESS RELEASE – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 51 year old, Alexander Marcellin alias “Ryzo” of Riviere Mitant, Monchy.
According to reports, on Monday, January 11, 2016 about 12:30 p.m. Marcellin was fishing for whelks near to the Esperance Beach in Monchy when he encountered difficulty.
His body was recovered later that day about 5:00 p.m. off the coast of Falaise Point, Gros-Islet.
He was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
A post mortem has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
It is lawful for a police officer or correctional officer to put on a person arrested, whether with or without a warrant, physical restraints, whether by hand cuffs, leg-restraints or other means—
(a) whenever such person is being moved from a place of confinement to Court or from Court to a place of confinement;
(b) whenever such person is being moved from one place of confinement to another, if there exists a reasonable apprehension of violence or of attempts to escape or by order of the Court.
“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”.
Troy Philomon
The police officer who was charged with two counts of assault in Babonneau has been suspended.
Special Police Constable Troy Philomon received his letter of suspension on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
Philomon told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Wednesday that the alleged victim did not receive any “extensive injuries” as was reported, and he believes it is a malicious move to discredit him.
“I will definitely take up the matter. The matter was already resolved at the station level, because there was no fight. Certain persons didn’t feel it was enough and they chose to do otherwise,” the officer explained.
The officer said his reputation and image has been tarnished as a result of this incident.
Philomon was arrested and charged on January 8, 2016 for allegedly assaulting Ruth Edmund of Paix Bouche, Babonneau on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 about 8:33 a.m. at the Babonneau Police Station.
He was granted bail in the sum of EC$750 on each count.
The matter has been set for February 4, 2016 in the First District Court.
PRESS RELEASE – On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 the Acting Police Commissioner Errol Alexander and other Executive Members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency, Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy at Government House, Morne Fortune, Castries.
During the meeting, the Governor General and the hierarchy of the Force engaged in discussions on various topics, including: Force Organization and Police Discipline.
This meeting marks the very first and hopeful several others to come between the entire Executive of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and the Head of State.
Left to right: : Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation Mikael Barfod, British High Commissioner Victoria Dean, and the Ambassador of France Eric de Moussaye.
Several issues were raised in relation to security and justice when three European diplomats met with Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony today (Jan.14) at his Castries office.
Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation Mikael Barfod, British High Commissioner Victoria Dean, and the Ambassador of France Eric de Moussaye, were those in attendance.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Barfod told the media that a strong message was delivered to the Prime Minister with regards to the IMPACS report and other issues relating to justice.
The foreign diplomat said that the criminal justice system in Saint Lucia needs to be improved, pointing to the backlog of cases and too many adjournments that lead to delays.
He noted that delays can often lead to no justice and stated his concern that this could lead to a sense of impunity that is dangerous for the society, especially for the future generation.
The EU diplomat warned that the situation could affect tourism, as travelers “will be given advice that they cannot expect the proper functioning of the judicial system.”
He noted that the issue is a long standing one that requires collaboration and stated that plans are being made to meet with members of the Opposition to discuss these same concerns.
Barfod said the team recognised that vacancies for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Deputy need to be filled and are hoping that can be done quickly, so that the IMPACS report could be looked at.
He said: “due process in respect of the allegations of extrajudicial killings by members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, is an indispensable condition for a system that respects the principle of rule of law.”
While admitting that the Prime Minister does not have any direct control over the judicial branch and there is separation of powers, he said it is was still the remit of the Prime Minister and his government to provide the necessary resources for the DPP to carry out her work.
Barfod said the Prime Minister has given his assurance that the vacancies for a new DPP, Deputy DPP and Commissioner of Police are well on track and these appointments could happen anytime soon.
The group of foreign diplomats plan to meet again with the Prime Minister in March or in early April this year, to follow up on the progress made with regards to the issues which were discussed today.
Only Tuesday the U.S Embassy in Barbados issued a statement urging the government to act on the IMPACS report. The U.S said it is concerned that four years have passed since these allegations of human rights violations first surfaced and due process is yet to be served.
National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere.
National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere said he has serious concerns as it relates to the threat the Islamic State (ISIS) poses to the Caribbean and Saint Lucia.
La Corbiniere noted that the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) free movement of persons within the region, could create a greater challenge than usual.
But despite this, the minister explained that Saint Lucia is constantly monitoring the situation, both in relation to local information and those received from sister nations.
Advanced training for members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has already taken place, while the capacity of the Force is also being developed.
A top United States general has expressed deep concern that a small number of motivated ISIS fighters could commit acts of terror in Caribbean nations.
General John Kelly, commander of the Miami-based US Southern Command, or SouthCOM, said about 150 Islamic extremists left the Caribbean region to join ISIS fighters in the Middle East last year, about 50 more than in the previous year.
However, he said, the biggest threat might not be the extremists who leave to train and fight with the Islamic State, but the ones who stay behind.
Kelly, who oversees US security in Latin America the Caribbean, said Islamic extremist groups seem to have a new message for would-be jihadists.
Mongroo building
A bullet from a police officer’s pistol missed its target Thursday afternoon and perforated through a glass window at a building located at Upper Bridge Street, Castries.
Reports are that the police were chasing after a suspect and discharged one round hitting the Mongroo building which houses the Customs Department, Western Union and DHL.
Luckily no was hurt and the suspect was arrested. The police have since replaced the glass.
Police said they are also investigating another incident which occurred at Point Seraphine, in which a police firearm was discharged piercing someone’s wall and destroying a kitchen utensil.
Acting Commissioner of Police Errol Alexander has assured National Security Minister Victor La Cobiniere that he will look into these matters to ensure that the protocols for use of firearms are followed.
Left to right: Alexander, Garde.
The applications of both top runners for the post of Commissioner of Police (COP) have been rejected.
Reports are that Acting Commissioner of Police Errol Alexander and Director of Corrections Vern Garde have received letters informing them of the decision.
This publication understands that the decision was taken following a court hearing on Thursday, where a police officer is seeking a judicial review of the application process.
Reports are that the post of Police Commissioner will be re-advertised next week.
When questioned about the issue today at a press conference, Alexander brushed aside the matter and did not confirm of deny that his application has been rejected.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has put systems in place to deal with internal disciplinary matters involving police officers at all levels of the Force.
Acting Police Commissioner Errol Alexander told the media today (Jan.15) that these offenses range from being absent without leave to incurring debts.
It also include: discreditable conduct, corrupt practice, neglect of duty, breach of Force orders, disobedience to orders.
Alexander said in 2015, 86 reports were made against police officers, 35 of them were convicted, 27 cases were withdrawn, and 24 cases were dismissed.
“2015, was rather an unfortunate time for us where police officers misconduct is concerned. Coming out of 2015, we had six police officers arrested and suspended,” he explained.
According to him, the officers appear before an adjudicator who acts as a magistrate, and a presenter who acts as a prosecutor, and the matter is dealt with from there.
The Police Act makes provisions for those convicted on any of these offenses. The penalty includes fines of up to ten days pay and the adjudicator can also recommend a reduction in rank or dismissal.
Cases are usually drawn from reports made to police personnel or the Police Complaints Unit.
The acting Top Cop told the media that he thought it was necessary to provide the public with these statistics, so that they are made aware that the police have mechanisms for dealing with disciplinary issues.
Acting Police Corporal Delvin Mathurin
Statistics released by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) on Friday, January 15, 2016 revealed that there was an overall decrease in reported crimes for 2015.
Acting Police Corporal of the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) Delvin Mathurin told the media that a total of 17,463 offences were recorded by the police for the period January 1 to December 31, 2015.
This represents an overall decrease in reported crimes of 2,591 or 13 percent in 2015, compared to 2014 and 1,316 when compared to 2013. However, the detection rate remained at 52 percent.
Mathurin said the distribution of major categories of crime for 2015 indicates that crimes against the person, offences against property and summary offences recorded the highest number of reported cases, with these three categories accounting for over 94 percent of the total crimes recorded on island.
Robbery offences saw an increase of 18 percent. There was an overall reduction in offences against property. But burglary, stealing from person and unlawful damage recorded the highest number of cases.
Burglary continues to be the highest recorded offence within the category of offences against property.
Shifting his attention to sexual offenses, Mathurin said despite there has been an 11 percent decrease, 250 cases of sexual offenses were reported, with 70 cases being indecent assault and 59 cases of rape.
This is an indication that rape increased in 2015 as compared to 2014. There were an increase of 11 cases in 2015, and detection rate for all sexual offenses decrease by 11 percent.
Meanwhile, the CIU official said there has been a constant decline in murders from 2011, with 2015 representing the year with the lowest number of homicides on record since 2007. A breakdown of homicide statistics revealed that there has been a declining trend over the past four years.
While there was zero recorded number of murders for the first quarter of 2015, the month of April recorded the highest number of cases. There were 28 murders and 29 homicides for 2015.
The highest number of murders was recorded in Castries, and was committed predominantly by young males against other young males using firearms and sharp objects, Mathurin explained.
He said the victim profiles indicate that males generally between the ages of 11 and 40 were the primary victims of murder on the Island.
* Not the actual cocaine seized by the police.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) said illicit narcotics remains a problem in Saint Lucia.
Acting Police Corporal of the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) Delvin Mathurin said 2015 saw a slight increase in drug related offenses when compared to 2014, but detection increased by five percent.
“Reduction in reported cases may be attributed to increased use of Intelligence Led Policing as a proactive crime fighting strategy. 172 cases were detected and 190 cases accepted,” Mathurin added.
The analysis of three year period highlighted fluctuations in the number of selected drug offences.
He said: “Cannabis possession continues to the narcotic that records the highest number of reports. However, the volume of cocaine seized continues to outstrip cannabis and other drugs.”
The CIU official said despite the challenges the Force has stepped up operations in response to drugs and has been aggressive in intercepting drugs on the streets of Saint Lucia.
“As the United States continue to tighten up their borders in the South American and Central America zones we realize that more drugs are beginning to come through the region,” he explained.
As such, Mathurin said the Force have changed its approach in starting to interdict huge sums of drugs, explaining that the quantity of the drugs especially cocaine intercepted would have increased.
Detection for these drug related cases have also seen a 91 percent increase.
Police are investigating the stabbing death of a male in Caye Mange, Monchy (Gros-Islet) Sunday night, Jan. 17.
Reports are that the victim was stabbed multiple times during a break-in/attempted robbery of a shop in the community. The incident occurred after 10 p.m.
A resident told St. Lucia News Online (SNO): “A guy usually stays in the shop for the owner and the shop was closed, and the robber entered the shop not knowing he was in the shop. So there was a scuffle and loud noises and some neighbors heard some loud noises. When they ran by the road they saw the perpetrator jump on the road and ran. When they checked, they saw a lot of blood. Everyone is shocked and cannot believe somebody would do that.”
The victim whose real name is Jean Hamilton Louis but is known by the nickname “Coolie”, is 62 years old.
He has been described as someone who did odd jobs for persons in the community.
Said a resident who knew him: “He was all over. He wasn’t like a zombie. He was always clean but he smoked a lot and drank a lot . But not drink to fall and stuff . You would ask him to go to the shop for you or something. He would clean your yard for you, all of that.”
Police are investigating the stabbing death of a male in Caye Mange, Monchy (Gros-Islet) Sunday night, Jan. 17.
Reports are that the victim was stabbed multiple times during a break-in/attempted robbery of a shop in the community. The incident occurred after 10 p.m.
A resident told St. Lucia News Online (SNO): “A guy usually stays in the shop for the owner and the shop was closed, and the robber entered the shop not knowing he was in the shop. So there was a scuffle and loud noises and some neighbors heard some loud noises. When they ran by the road they saw the perpetrator jump on the road and ran. When they checked, they saw a lot of blood. Everyone is shocked and cannot believe somebody would do that.”
The victim whose real name is Jean Hamilton Louis but is known by the nickname “Coolie”, is 62 years old.
He has been described as someone who did odd jobs for persons in the community.
Said a resident who knew him: “He was all over. He wasn’t like a zombie. He was always clean but he smoked a lot and drank a lot . But not drink to fall and stuff . You would ask him to go to the shop for you or something. He would clean your yard for you, all of that.
“He was a darling. Can’t say anything bad about him; was never in any problem or anything.”
There was still evidence of blood at the crime scene on Monday morning. The door was also taped as ‘Evidence’.
Residents of Caye Mange are scared and worried about their safety following the gruesome murder and robbery that took place in the quiet community on Sunday evening.
One resident, who asked not to be named, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the incident has placed everyone in an uncomfortable situation and will now cause persons to be “extra vigilant.”
“This is a very quiet community. It has its pros and cons, but this is very shocking because this has never happened before. There have been several break-ins but never a robbery that led to murder,” the resident said.
A 62-year-old shop caretaker, Jean Hamilton Louis alias ‘Coolie’, was stabbed multiple times during an alleged robbery in the community. His body was discovered lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
The woman, who lives close to the business premises where the incident occurred, told SNO that she hasn’t been able to eat or sleep since the bloody incident.
She said everyone there believe that the robber/murderer may be an “outsider.” “It’s not the guys raised here, petty things would happen and they would know who did it,” she explained.
Describing what took place on the gruesome night, the woman recalled that her uncle heard a scuffle at the shop and ran to the home of a police officer in the community to alert him.
But before the police arrived, he and two other persons went to the shop.
“Before they got there a male opened the door and ran out. They didn’t see his face, but noticed that he was wearing a pair of booths and a full pants, and a stripe shirt,” she explained.
The neighbour said the trio also saw the man pushed something in his side. It was later discovered that the murder weapon was not at the scene and the bandit may have used an ice pick to kill Louis.
But it was until the trio opened the door and went inside the shop, then they realised that the man was brutally stabbed to the chest and unresponsive. Blood was everywhere, she said.
A few minutes after, a police patrol was passing and they stopped and alerted them. The police went around the area in search of the man seen leaving the shop, but they came up empty handed.
While there was a substantial amount of cash close to the cash register, the bandit may not have noticed it, because that was left behind. He however took $40.60 with him before escaping.
The woman told SNO that she was able to see the crime scene before the police arrived and cordoned off the area and described it as a slaughter house, where blood was seen everywhere.
She described Louis as a very helpful person who was known and trusted by everyone in Caye Mange.
“He was friends with everybody in the community and he was a trustworthy person. My mom would give him money to buy beers and he would do it and he did things for everyone here,” she explained.
The woman recalls that Louis was recently hospitalized for a condition and people from community came together and paid him a visit and assisted him until he was fully recovered.
“He will be missed. He will definitely be missed,” she said.
PRESS RELEASE – The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is the recipient of a Crime Scene Forensic Kit which would aid the Force in its crime scene investigations.
The investigative tool was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department during a ceremony which took place on Monday, January 18, 2016 at The Chesterfield Conference Room.
Forensic Lab Director at the Caribbean Forensic Services of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Maurice Aboud, made this valuable donation through an affiliate agency, Alternative Security Services (St. Lucia) LTD.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to thank Dr. Aboud for his generous donation. There is no doubt that this vital tool will enhance the crime scene investigative capabilities of the Royal Saint Lucia Force.
Robbery offences have increased steadily over the past three years, with 2015 recording an increase of 18 percent when compared to 2014, according to recent statistics released by the Police Force.
The 2015 Crime Report revealed that a breakdown and comparison of offences against the person for the period 2014 through 2015, highlights decreases in all areas except attempted murder, attempted suicide and robbery which realised minor increases.
Offences of assaults have also showed constant decreases from 2013 through to 2015.
Meanwhile, burglary continues to be the highest recorded offence within the category of offences against property.
While the police have reported that there was an overall reduction in offences against property; burglary, stealing from person and unlawful damage, recorded the highest number of cases.
However, there were reductions in the number of reports compared to 2014.
Offences against persons, decreased by 7 percent in 2015. This is the highest recorded decrease of 56 percent. Detection rates for this category have been over 50 percent for the past three years.
“There was a decrease of 968 cases or 18 percent from 2014. Detection rates declined steadily of the three year period, however, still averaging fairly well at 34 percent,” the report stated.
* Not the actual items found by police.
Some seven blocks of cocaine, along with a pistol and 13 rounds of live ammunition were discovered during a police operation on Saturday in Mabouya Valley.
Reports are that police raided a house in the area and discovered the illegal drugs and the other items. The house was reportedly occupied by two young males and two females.
One of the men is reported to have been arrested.
Investigations are ongoing.
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