Is the Police File on a Fatal Accident in Belmopan Missing?
Over the weekend, reports that the police file on the fatal accident that took the life of eight-year-old Gabriella Corales has gone missing spread like wildfire on social media. A news outlet reported that the D.P.P.’s office has claimed that the file is with the police and the police have claimed that the file is at the D.P.P.’s office. The file dates back to June of last year when Corales was knocked down and killed at a pedestrian ramp near her school. The driver of the truck was a fifteen-year-old boy. Today police was asked about the file, if indeed it is missing and if so, what happens next? ACP Joseph Myvett told reporters today that they will be making queries with the D.P.P.’s office because the file was handed over and signed for. He says, however, that if indeed the file is missing all is not lost.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“As far as we know, the matter is slated to come up for preliminary inquiry at the Magistrate’s Court sometime in October and that the file was sent to the Office of the DPP upon signature. And we have not yet made checks to see where the file is but we know that it is not in our position because it was sent to the office of the D.P.P.”
Reporter
“Have police received any reports of the file being missing? Anything on your radar to say that perhaps the D.P.P. doesn’t have these files in her possession?”
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No. Not that we know about.”
Andrea Polanco
“In the event that it is lost, what can the Police Department do to ensure that this doesn’t happen again?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Well, there is a process to get this done and that there is usually a duplication of the file and the file is hand delivered and is then handed over upon signature. And that is the way it is always sent back to us when it is sent back from the D.P.P. office.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, presently you don’t have two copies of the one file?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“I do not know. I would have to check.”
Andrea Polanco
“Is that the standard practice – the police would keep one and then you send one to the D.P.P.”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“The investigator would probably have his copy and then the original would go to the DPP or in some instances or in most instances now these statements or most part of the file or the electronic case file is usually saved. So, it is just a matter of going back and retrieving what was saved in terms of the electronic case file.”
Andrea Polanco
“Is there always an electronic version, sir?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yes. Of recent yes.”
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, but you don’t foresee that if the D.P.P. doesn’t have the copy that all is lost in this case?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No. I do not think so.”
