For about two weeks now - we've been indicating that the police murder count for 2024 is 89, which is less than our count of 91.
Quantitatively, it's not a huge difference. But for the families of the deceased, it can mean the difference between justice denied and justice delivered.
So we pressed the commissioner on it today:
Jules Vasquez
"89 to 91, I'm not saying that murder is out of control, but I'm saying that families deserve justice, sir. Belhem Guzman, Matthew Moses. And the DPP instructed you, sir, on November 13th, the DPP said, I've reviewed this case, upgrade the charge of murder, and you all have not upgraded it, because you are guarding your precious metric."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Jules Vasquez, I've known you to be a very, very astute journalist and not so good politician. You have also become commissioner of police. You have also become a lawyer. And now here you are becoming the DPP. What else is there for you to become?"
"You are everything. Every instruction given to the police by her Majesty's director of public prosecution is adhered to under my command. I do not encourage my officers not to adhere to directives from the DPP."
"So I don't know where you're getting your stats from, but..."
Jules Vasquez
"So there's no such directive?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Again, what you're spewing or what you're trying to digest is not worthy of your stomach. Spit it out."
Jules Vasquez
"I have johncrow belly, sir."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Spit it out, Jules."
Jules Vasquez
"And in the other case, a gentleman killed in San Pedro. He has four entry wounds between his back and his head."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"That person was charged for murder? That's why I don't know what you're talking about."
Jules Vasquez
"I don't know that he was charged."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"He was charged for murder, Jules."
We checked multiple court, police, and prosecution sources, and no one has been charged for the Matthew Moses murder. The DPP's office has not received the post mortem and is waiting on a statement from the examining doctor.
As regards the Belem Guzman murder, information to us has established that the charge against Allen Coye was in fact upgraded to murder on November 21st.
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