St. David’s residents cry out for justice

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Parent Category: Jan 2012

Category: Week end Jan 14th, 2012

Published on Sunday, 22 January 2012 15:59

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The atmosphere in St. David’s continues to be charged following the alleged beating to death of Grenadian-born Canadian resident Peter Oscar Bartholomew at the hands of police officers attached to the St. David’s Police Station on Boxing Day.

A number of residents of the Parish who gathered in the vicinity of the St. David’s Magistrate’s Court last week Friday became more vociferous in their call for “justice” as five police officers who are facing a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of the 39-year old Bartholomew were granted bail in their second court appearance.

The five - Police Constables 649 Edward Gibson, 675 Shaun Ganness, 237 Ruddy Felix, 748 Kenton Hazzard, and Rural Constable Wendell Sylvester - were each granted bail in the sum of $100,000.00 by Magistrate Nevlyn John with several attached conditions. The massive crowd which was restrained from getting close to the building that houses both the court house and the police station charged that with no justice there will never be peace in the Bartholomew incident.

“There will never be no peace without justice. We need justice, we all need justice,” one man was heard c.hanting aloud. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson who attended the court hearing made a passionate appeal to the St. David’s residents to govern themselves appropriately.

DPP Nelson said he understands the sensitivity of the matter and would like to proceed expeditiously with the trial of the police officers. However, he cautioned that undue inappropriate public reaction and attempts by the social media to label, brand and judge the accused men would only hinder the due administration of justice.

“If the adverse publicity continues, what this could result in is an indefinite stay of the proceedings,” he said. “I understand how people feel, particularly the family, but we ought to appreciate that we operate in a democracy, that law and order must be allowed to prevail. The magistrate who is the person vested in law with the decision to say whether or not a person should be granted bail has spoken, that decision must be respected,” he added.

DPP Nelson who objected to bail citing several factors felt that passion should be allowed to cool off so that the risk of public disorder and harm to the five accused policemen is averted. He admonished the people of St. David’s to allow the court to operate, now that the accused persons have been charged.

The five accused police officers are due back in court on January 27.

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