The victim, Shaquan Sammy-Plummer (left) and Jemal Williams, who was slapped with a life sentence.

BBC/SNO – A 20-year-old man was last month jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a teenager he would not let in to his party.

The Jemal Williams, of Berkeley Gardens, Enfield, must serve a minimum of 24 years for stabbing Shaquan Sammy-Plummer, 17, in the chest. Sammy-Plummer had ties to St. Lucia.

Williams was having a party when Shaquan arrived. He had been invited by the boyfriend of Williams’s sister.
The defendant refused him entry but demanded drinks be handed over.

The Old Bailey heard that when Shaquan refused, Williams chased and stabbed him.

‘Meaningless tragedy’

The victim, who was from Islington, died at the Royal London Hospital a few hours later.

Williams fled the scene but handed himself in to police on 9 February 2015.

Det Ch Insp Jamie Piscopo, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command unit, said: “The death of Shaquan was a meaningless tragedy.

“Even when he was turned away from the party, he made no fuss and was in the process of leaving when Williams decided he needed to teach him a lesson.”

He described the investigation as being complex due to the “wall of silence” by people too scared to come forward.

SNO understands that the victim had relatives from Vieux-Fort and Babonneau.

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PRESS RELEASE – The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force continues to engage in constructive community activities, particularly where youth outreach is concerned.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2016 it was the turn of the Desruisseaux Combined School to receive a special visit by Commissioner of Police Severin Monchery and some members of his Executive.

The Commissioner who also hails from the community of Desruisseaux was delighted to address the entire student body.

After having the pleasure of being read to by the Commissioner and other police officers, the students took the opportunity to pose several questions to the senior members of the RSLPF.
Central to the day’s discussions were issues of the fear of self-expression or “speaking up” and the issue of Child Abuse.  Students were advised by the group of police officers to report anyone who abuses them to the police or trusted adult.

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Mary Francis

Human Rights activist and Attorney-at-Law, Mary Francis, has reiterated that there is need for swift justice in the many sex crimes being committed on the island.

Francis’ comment comes in light of the alleged rape of two teenagers at Derek Walcott square on Friday.

While some persons have argued that Francis only speaks to the human rights of alleged criminals and not the ordinary citizen, Francis has debunked those claims stating that she has spoken on the issue many times before.

“We have to come together and take responsibility for our lives. Take responsibility for the management of our country. Its sickening to believe that such an act has taken place in the middle of the town,” she stated.

The human rights lawyer questioned why it is happening and why are young men engaging in this type of behaviour.

She said the authorities must ensure that certain interventions are taken to prevent a recurrence.

But Francis is not the only one concerned about this issue. Opposition Leader Dr. Gale Rigobert slammed the government for their silence on the increase in sex crimes.

Rigobert said she would like to see government giving greater priority to correcting inefficiencies in the judicial system and reopening the forensic laboratory.

The Micoud North MP said  government needs to do more to convince the citizenry that it is interested in creating an environment of zero tolerance for sex crimes.

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Crime Chief Milton Desir

In light of the alleged rape of two teenage girls at the Derek Walcott Square on Friday, Crime Chief Milton Desir has promised to take stern action and hunt down the alleged rapists.

The assistant Commissioner of Police, promised to to maximize the use of police resources in an attempt to apprehend the alleged perpetrators and have them face the full force of the law.

He told a news conference on Thursday that it is unacceptable for citizens and in particular young persons, to be preyed upon, while at beaches and other public places.

Desir said the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has taken steps to ensure the safety of citizens.

The senior police official informed the media that most of the samples that were sent abroad for forensic testing in connection with serious crimes committed here, have returned positive.

As such, most of the suspects are currently before the courts and other have been arrested.

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Digicel was forced to close their Bridge Street outlet on Thursday following a break-in.

Bandits reportedly burglarized the store early Thursday, leaving with a number of merchandise.

It is not clear where the bandits gained entry, but the store is located less than one block away from the Central Police Station and the Police Headquarters.

The police have launched an investigation.

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BARBADOS TODAY – The LIAT flight attendant charged with bringing cocaine into Barbados has been further remanded, this time until May 19.

Deann Pat Porsha Palmer of LaClery, Castries, St Lucia was not required to answer the four drug charges which Acting Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch read to her in the District ‘C’ Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The 33-year-old is charged with possession, intent to supply, trafficking and importing the five kilogrammes of the drugs and another count of possession of 1.3 grammes of cannabis.

She was interviewed by personnel from the Drug Squad when she arrived here on April 26, and was subsequently referred to Customs where a search revealed the cocaine in her handbag. The marijuana was later found at her home in Barbados.

Plummer was denied bail when she appeared in the District C Magistrates Court on April 29 and again on May 5 when she made her second court appearance.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

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Police are investigating a burglary at the La Croix Maingot Combined School, where masked bandits forced their way into the school, leaving with several pieces of items.

Reports are that the bandits, who were armed with sharp objects, tied up the security guard who was on duty around 4 a.m. Friday, before breaking into the school building.

They managed to take a microwave and an electric fan, and escaped using the security guard’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned at Cul de Sac.

The school’s principal, Christina Norley, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that this is not the first time that the school has had a break-in, as there was a similar incident about five months ago.

“But the school is fairly well secure. We have all the metal bars and the doors are all metal. I think the perpetrators really wanted to get in, for whatever reason, and they hammered down this place,” she remarked.

Norley said that the school has managed to clean up the mess that was created by the bandits, because she is trying to make the school environment as normal as possible.

“They (pupils) are our priority, so we have to keep them calm. We have to ensure that we don’t linger in anything, that we do or evoke any negative or traumatic response,” she added.

Only one month ago, bandits broke into the George Charles Secondary School, tying up the security guard and beating him. The bandits stole computers and other items from the school.

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A teen was reportedly shot multiple times on Chaussee Road in Castries early this morning.

The teen, identified as Gregory Stephens, was shot sometime after 2 AM.

He was taken to Victoria Hospital.

His current fate is unknown.

More to come on this item.

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DEAD: Amos McFarlane

Police have arrested a young male for questioning in relation to a fatal shooting in Vieux Fort on Sunday evening.

The victim in that shooting has been identified as Amos McFarlane, who is believed to be in his mid 20’s.

It is unclear what led to the shooting, as details are still sketchy.

However, McFarlane was reportedly shot about two blocks from the Vieux Fort Roman Catholic Church.

Emergency service officials said they received a call from the police around 11 p.m. Sunday, but when they arrived on the scene, the victim was already dead and the police had started their investigation.

McFarlane was shot multiple times and residents recalled hearing several gun shots before his body was discovered.

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that the victim was one of several persons who were initially arrested in the 2014 robbery of a retired British couple on a yacht, in which a 62-year-old male tourist was brutally killed.

A police source said he was taken in for questioning but later released.

We will provide you with more detail as soon as it becomes available.

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A concerned parent has written St. Lucia News Online (SNO) to warn other parents who have children going to primary schools from Vide Bouitelle to the Castries basin, to be more vigilante with their kids.

The parent who requested anonymity said, “There are thieves targeting the primary school children.”

She said her daughters are victims, as they were recently robbed along that route.

“But thanks to good Samaritans along the road, they were able to retrieve the cell phone,but the guy got away. It’s heart breaking for your 11-year-old and her little sister to experience such,” she added.

The matter was reported to the police.

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PRESS RELEASE – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 15 year old, Gregor Steven also known as “Boyo” of Wilton’s Yard, Castries.

According to reports, on Monday, May 16, 2016 about 2:20 a.m. Steven was walking along the Morne Du Don Road when two (2) gunmen fired rounds of ammunition at him.

Steven sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the Victoria Hospital for treatment but subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

This is the twelfth homicide for 2016.

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DEAD: Dwight Amos Mc Farlane

PRESS RELEASE – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 25 year old, Dwight Amos Mc Farlane of Christoph Rowe near Garvey Street in Vieux Fort.

On Monday, May 16, 2016 about 12:05 a.m. police responded to a shooting in Christoph Rowe.

Upon arrival, the officers discovered the motionless body of Mc Farlane with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead on the scene by a medical doctor.

This is the eleventh homicide for 2016.

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Anthony Octave

PRESS RELEASE – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 49 year old, Anthony Octave of Massade, Gros-Islet.

According to reports, Anthony and a relative went on a diving expedition off the coast of Pigeon Pointe on Friday, May 13, 2016 about 9:00 a.m.

During the expedition, it is alleged that Anthony encountered difficulty and submerged.

His body was later discovered on an unnamed beach near to the Pigeon Island Causeway. He was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

A post mortem has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

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Richard Frederick

The recent execution of a 15-year-old male on Chaussee Road, Castries indicates that a few people seem hell-bent on continuing the perpetration of violence in the constituency.

Castries Central Member of Parliament (MP), Richard Frederick, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Tuesday that while the shooting may be gang related, there was an assiduous effort to bring peace.

Frederick said in an effort to stop the gang violence, some males from Grass Street, invited other males from Wilton’s Yard, to have a peaceful social gathering, something that has never happened before.

“I must applaud the guys who organized it and for trying to bring peace to the area. But sadly for some people, there heads are just hard and they just want to continue on a trend that is not necessarily in sync with what the people want,” the Castries Central MP stated.

Frederick said he understands that the teenager went to the gathering that was organized by the Grass Street men and while returning home, he was shot seven times by two men from the area.

The MP expressed disappointment in the shooting, stating that the violence is not helpful to anyone.

“At the end of the day, it is totally intolerable. It should not have happened. Some of the youngsters believe that peace is not good enough for them, and they shot the young man,” he added.

Gregor Stephens, also known as ‘Boyo’, was shot around 2 a.m. Monday.

He sustained a gunshots to the liver, the stomach, one above the heart, one below the heart, one to the spine, one to the arm and two to the wrist.

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A man in his early 20’s was stabbed while in a bus heading to Micoud North, for the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) political rally held on Sunday.

Reports are that a man, identified as Imbert (only name given), attacked a man by the name of Marcus, when the bus filled with SLP supporters got to Dernière Rivière, Dennery, but Marcus retaliated by stabbing Imbert.

“SSU turned the bus back to Faux a Chaud, and it never made it to the meeting. The fighting continued among them after the bus dropped them off,” a source told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Monday.

The Richfond Police Station confirmed receiving the report, but could not provide any details regarding the incident, as the investigating officer is currently off-duty.

An opposition United Workers Party (UWP) official told SNO: “They also tried to engage us all the way down, but we have warned our people to remain focused. They also blocked the road.”

The injured man spent the night at hospital and was released around 11:00 a.m. (Monday).

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PRESS RELEASE – 73 (1) An employer shall, on polling day, allow every elector in his or her employ a reasonable period being not less than 2 hours or such other period as may be prescribed for voting, and no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose upon or exact from him or her any penalty by reason of his or her absence during such period.

(2) Any employer who, directly or indirectly, refuses, or by intimidation, undue influence, or in any other way, interferes with the granting to any elector in his or her employ, of the period for voting as provided in subsection (1), is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500 or to imprisonment for 6 months.

“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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Cymatha Mitchel

The Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has extended condolences to family and friends of Cymatha Mitchel, a female police officer from La Fargue, Choiseul, who recently passed away.

Mitchel last worked in the Crime Management Department of the RSLPF.

The RSLPF posted on their Facebook page: “The Commissioner, Gazzetted Officers other ranks and file of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to extend sympathy greeting to the Mitchel Family of La Fargue, Choiseul on the passing of their daughter, grand daughter, niece, sister, aunt, cousin Cymatha Mitchel who left this world to be with her maker.”

“We would also like to extent sympathy greeting to the Crime Management Department especially CID (north/south) where she last worked. Know that she is in a better place. Gone but will never be forgotten.”

Persons have expressed shock at the officer’s sudden passing.

Marva Epiphane said: “RIP Samantha .My deepest sympathy goes out to the family..I still can’t believe it. Another beautiful soul have left this world..”

Sympathy greetings were also extended to family and friends of Abraham Pinda, a Fire Service official who also passed away recently.

Abraham Pindar

“The Commissioner, Gazzetted Officers other ranks and file of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to extend sympathy greeting to the Pindar Family of Entrepot, Castries on the passing of their son, grand son, uncle, brother, cousin Abraham Pindar who left this world to be with his maker. We would also like to extend sympathy greetings to the Saint Lucia Fire & Emergency Services, where he was employed.”

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) has no concrete information on the cause of death of these two individuals, but reports point to natural causes.

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Police are investigating a suspected suicide in Morne Ciseaux near Jacmel, after a man’s body was discovered hanging from a tree.

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) has confirmed with police that the discovery was made around 6 p.m., Tuesday.

The victim has been identified as Bernard Caro, alias ‘Buy’, 60.

Sources have said his son works at the Jacmel bus stop.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Two male students from the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School were robbed in broad daylight by two armed men, in Castries around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (May. 24).

One of victim’s mother, who asked not to be named, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Wednesday that her son and his school mate, who are both 14-years-old, were cornered by the two men close to the government printery.

The woman said her son recalled that one of bandits pulled out a switchblade on him, requesting that he pass their cousin’s phone, pretending that they knew each other and suggesting that the students stole a phone.

He told his mother a passerby saw when the men pulled out the switchblade on him and recalled the individual saying to the men that they cannot do that to ‘school children.’

“So they (the students) said the bandits then told the boys to follow them. They took them behind the CDC building, searched them and took their cell phones and money,” the woman said.

Fortunately, the bandits did not hurt the students and allowed them to leave after they were robbed.

Once the boys got home, they related the story to their parents and a report was made with the police. The school was also informed and they have been communicating with the parents.

The woman said the boys may have panicked, because a knife was being pointed at them, when they decided to follow the bandits to the CDC building, where they were later robbed.

She told SNO after speaking with the police, she came to understand that this is not the first set of school children that have been robbed as of recent, right in the Castries area.

“It is so frustrating that your kid cannot even walk in town. He was going to have his hair cut, when that happened. Now you have to be cautioning your kid where to pass. In fact, I don’t want my child to be in town,” she told SNO.

The school boys have described the men wearing vests and flip-flops.

Only last week, another parent wrote SNO to warn other parents who have children going to primary schools from Vide Bouitelle to the Castries basin, to be more vigilante with their kids.

The parent who requested anonymity said her daughters were recent victims, as they were recently robbed along that route. They took her 11-year-old daughter’s cell phone.

That matter was also reported to the police.

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Samson Polius

Police are investigating a homicide in Monchy, Gros-Islet, where a 23-year-old man was brutally chopped, resulting in his untimely demise, on Thursday evening.

The victim has been identified as Samson Polius, of Monchy, who was fatally stabbed around 7:30 p.m., by another male who is around the same age. The incident reportedly stemmed from an argument between the two.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the police said upon arriving at the scene, they discovered Polius lying on his back, unresponsive with what appeared to be a chop wound to the neck.

Polius was transported to Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

The suspect, who grew up in Monchy with Polius, is in police custody.

Residents told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the incident has shocked the community, as both men were very close.

“The community is saddened; (this is) giving the community a bad name,” one resident told SNO.

Residents have described the victim as “well mannered”, “well respected”, and “hardworking” and did not deserve to die that way.

This is the thirteenth homicide for the year 2016.

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