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The investigation into the alleged failure by three police officers to arrest the suspect in the La Brea quadruple murders after one of the victims had reported days earlier he had threatened to kill her, has been completed.
Police information officer Insp Michael Jackman confirmed that the file has been sent to acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.
“A file has been compiled and forwarded to the commissioner. The investigator is awaiting instructions,” said Jackman via Whatsapp Messenger.
Sgt Rosalie Joseph-Taitt, Cpl Vierendra Ramlal and WPC Nailah Homer were suspended on March 16 pending an investigation by Professional Standards Bureau into the allegation of neglect of duty.
The investigation was ordered by Williams following complaints by Christine Jones, mother of one of the victims, school teacher Abigail Jones-Chapman, 41, that the murders may have been prevented if the police had acted when her daughter reported that her ex-boyfriend had allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill her.
Jones-Chapman made the report at La Brea Police Station on March 8, five days before she, her daughter, her daughter’s friend and landlord were murdered.
When contacted yesterday, Police Social and Welfare Association president Michael Seales said he was not aware that the file was completed, but he called on the commissioner to make a public statement on his findings as soon as possible.
Seales said the association’s own inquiries have unearthed no wrongdoing by the officers and the association stands in support of them.
“The association maintains that the commissioner acted out of haste. We have had an opportunity to really examine the matter and we have found no fault on the part of the officers. We could have no reason for their suspension,” Seales said.
Seales said the association has received information that “some things were not properly thought through” before the officers were suspended.
Noting that the officers are being affected in many ways by their suspension, Seales said, “I am happy to hear that the file is before the commissioner. We are calling for diligence and prudence in how the matter is dealt with and we want the commissioner to make a public statement on the issue.”
Jones-Chapman, her daughter Olivia, 16, her friend Michaela Mason, 14, and landlord Michael Scott, 70, were discovered dead in her home—a downstairs apartment she rented from Scott—at Kanhai Settlement, Sobo Village. It is believed that Scott, who lived upstairs, heard a commotion and went to the other three victims’ assistance.
Scott and Jones-Chapman were beaten to death, Olivia was beaten and stabbed while Michaela’s throat was slit.
Police had launched a manhunt for Jones-Chapman’s ex-boyfriend Rodger Mattison who was eventually arrested in Valencia on March 18, walking along a deserted road near St Albans Quarry.
Following investigations supervised by ASP Lucia Winchester and Insp Darryl Corrie, instructions were received by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul to charge him.
Mattison was charged by Sgt Hemraj Sirju and appeared in the Point Fortin Magistrates’ Court on March 26. Mattison, who is being represented by attorney Fareed Ali, is expected to reappear in court on Monday.