As we told you last night 20 year old Zena Armstrong was charged with manslaughter for stabbing 19 year old Anna Villanueva through the heart. Now many have taken to social media to express outrage that Armstrong wasn't charged with murder. Today at the police press briefing Head of the Crimes Investigation Branch ACP Joseph Myvette says he can't go into much detail on this case but that the police nor the DPP can base their decision on emotions or optics, they have to look at what the evidence and the outcome of their investigation show.
Jules Vasquez
"Now sir as you know the family, the Villanueva family and her friends are extremely perturbed by this charge because the person who killed their loved one is out on bail for $8,000, they believe it wasn't manslaughter but a case of murder. Are there mitigating circumstances or extenuating circumstances which suggest that Zena Armstrong may have been acting in self defense?"
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head NCIB
"At this point in time I am not going to into those details other than to say that the evidence gathered and that was forwarded to the DPP for her to make a determination on a charge of manslaughter."
Jules Vasquez:
"Certainly though you have heard the blow back or this 'upsetness' about this manslaughter charge."
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head NCIB
"Yes I have but if you do not have any supporting evidence to prefer a charge of murder then it is only the evidence that was submitted to the DPP that caused her to make that determination."
Reporter:
"It is believed that Ms. Armstrong was the person who brought that weapon when she got into the altercation with the deceased?"
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head NCIB
"Well I am not going to speculate as who is the owner is all I will say is that the weapon was retrieved by police and prints have been lifted as well as other tests is going to be done on that weapon."
The Commissioner of Police sent a release stating " While we appreciate the family and public's outcry in respect to the charge levied against Ms Armstrong, the charge was proffered after consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution where the evidence obtained by the police up to that time, was presented. The evidence, as obtained by the police, does not, in the opinion of the DPP, support the charge of murder. Whilst we have charged Ms Armstrong with Manslaughter, the DPP has given certain directives to the police for further work to be done. The police investigators are in the process of carrying out those directives after which the DPP will consider whether or not the charge can be upgraded to murder."
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