JCF probe extrajudicial killings in St Lucia

CASTRIES (CMC):

Police Commissioner Vernon Francois says, while he welcomed the probe into alleged extrajudicial killings by the members of the Royal St Lucia Police Force, he is also hoping it will bring " a degree of closure" to the situation.

The probe was conducted by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, under the auspices of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security. The probe was initiated after the United States announced that it was cutting back aid to the police here and the Kenny Anthony administration had said the assistance from Washington would remain suspended until the inquiry was held.

independent probe

The Jamaican investigators were conducting the independent probe into 12 alleged extrajudicial killings, dating back to 2010, during which period there were claims that local officers had a "Hit List" of criminals who were being targetted. Five of the killings occurred during one incident.

"I was hoping that this process would have been completed by now because obviously it's a cloud over the department and we need to move forward," Francois said, adding that the original time frame for the investigation had been February this year.

" I have noticed that what is happening is that you get one thing out of the way and you automatically get into something else. If the desired outcome is not arrived at, you have to do something else."

"We should not say subsequent to the investigation, let us do something else because we did not get a desired outcome," the police commissioner said.