Brooks says D.P.P. needs to consult with police
Last week the Director of Public Prosecutions Adolph Lucas appeared on “One on One” with Dickie Bradley. Among the topics was the D.P.P.’s dismissal of the Samantha Gordon and Jackie Malic murder cases for a lack of arguable evidence. He criticized the police for going on national TV and radio when they make an arrest and outlining evidence that does not appear in the actual case files. Lucas also said the police no longer consult with his office when working on a case to make sure the evidence they gather will hold up in court. Last night it was Commissioner of Police Ornel Brooks’ turn to respond. He told host Dickie Bradley that the problem is not with the police; it is the D.P.P.’s office that does not want to work with them.
Q: “Couldn’t this whole thing be resolved simply by a little bit of cooperation and collaboration, just get the chief investigator send over the file?”
Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police
“I don’t have, we don’t have a problem per se, but what I’m saying is that is what is really needed to have the matter resolved. Then the problem is, we are saying is simply because we weren’t doing this; this is what we are saying.”
Q: “Getting legal advice?”
Ornel Brooks
“This is what we are saying. This is what the police are concerned about, that we believe that whenever we take the file, whether it’s at the end, or during, the office of the D.P.P. should advise us. The other point I want to make about…”
Q: “They don’t advise you?”
Ornel Brooks
“They, no. They don’t advise us. Absolutely not!”
Q: “No memorandums telling you you need to go back and carry out an identification parade?”
Ornel Brooks
“No, Sir, no.”
Q: “Or the ID was weak?”
Ornel Brooks
“They criticize, but not…”
Q: “But that is the advice. This file does not show us a proper ID was carried out. Don’t they say please record another statement?”
Ornel Brooks
“No, no, no. That is not there. Not there. I’m telling the nation. Not there.”
Q: “Is it because you can’t advise the police? You are lawyers yourselves, you know it all?”
Ornel Brooks
“Is it because you sulk? That’s the question. If you advise us we would know. We are waiting to hear advice.”
Q: “If you tell the nation you have all these blood samples and forensics and so, can they advise you still?”
Ornel Brooks
“Sure they can advise us, it is the law.”
Q: “To say what?”
Ornel Brooks
“They can read the file and say strengthen here, look at this, look at this. That’s what they are there for.”
