Alexander Shaw | Do not create false hope on cheap investigation and weak evidence

An allegation for a serious crime has the potential to cause irreversible damage to one’s reputation, particularly in this digital age, where news has no geographical boundary. It is incumbent on investigators to treat each complaint with utmost care and caution, balancing the rights and liberty of the accused persons with the desire for justice by the victim.

Albeit that Jamaica is riddled with high incidence of crime and violence, let us not presume an accused is ‘guilty until proven innocent’.

I agree that gangs are wreaking havoc in Jamaica, but this in no way gives licence to ‘scrape up inner-city youths’ without sufficient evidence of crimes committed, supported by independent evidence to bolster the statements of witnesses. Be not so desperate to prosecute that you fail to properly investigate alleged cases, then plunge into mourning when they collapse, causing the public to think untoward about the justice system.

The Dexter Street Gang case (where 19 persons were detained for almost two years) that recently crumbled rested on the account of one alleged gangster, without other independent evidence to support the allegations made. Serious offences that attract life imprisonment sentences and public condemnation should not be investigated with scant regard. I, therefore, urge investigators not to be so hungry for a conviction that you ignore the recipes to build a good case.

It is good to impress the public, but do not create false hope on cheap investigation and weak evidence. Do not fall to political pressure. Do not use crime and corruption to score political points. Think about the people you pledge to serve and to protect, and the trust and confidence you will cause to deteriorate when you build cases on a foundation of splintered timber.

Alexander Shaw is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.