D.P.P. Says Yes to Prosecutor’s Criticism, No to the Method

This week, we reported on the matter involving Aaron Wilson, who was detained for almost a day on grounds that he was boisterous towards a police officer when he confronted her at the police station in Ladyville. As it turned out, the police officer had hung up the phone on Wilson and he went to the station to tell her about it. Well, Wilson was held for about twenty-two hours, and following that, Crown Counsel, Riis Cattouse fired off a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams in which he criticized the police for what he felt was frequent violation of the human rights of persons who are detained. The matter did not sit well with Williams or the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, who both thought it was unfortunate that Cattouse had that to say. Today, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal told reporters that it is not what Cattouse said that she had a problem with, but the way he went about it.

 

Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“Whenever a file is being advised on and there has been any impropriety on the part of the police, the [Crown] Counsel would write about it in their memoranda. Perhaps this is the first time it has been sent to the media.”

 

Reporter

“Okay, so this is standard practice for the Crown Counsel to engage the Commissioner in this manner?”

 

Cheryl-Lyn Vidal

“I don’t think the Commissioner directly, but anytime a file is sent to the office and there is some evidence of impropriety on the part of the police and the Counsel will speak on it. I do not believe that Counsel has in the past written directly to the Commissioner in that manner, but it is not as though the DPP’s office is in the habit of endorsing police impropriety.”

 

Reporter

“Do you endorse the fact that Crown Counsel Cattouse decided, you know what, this is a matter that I should, and he took it upon himself to write to the Commissioner of Police?”

 

Cheryl-Lyn Vidal

“No, that part of it is not endorsed.”