Shemar Weekes case adjourned

THE much-anticipated ruling on the Shemar Weekes case has been delayed.

 

The 12-year-old was found dead in the shed of his Checker Hall, St. Lucy residence on May 14, 2015.

 

Yesterday, Coroner Manila Renee, while acknowledging that everyone was expecting a decision after the month-long inquest, adjourned proceedings around 10:30 a.m., after concluding that a key piece of information requested last week, which would shed more light on the timeline of events, had not been made available.

 

It was during the statement given by Assistant Ambulance Officer, Trevor Bynoe, of the Emergency Ambulance Service, that it was explained that he received the call from the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) around 9:36 p.m. on the night in question, and not from the actual home of the deceased 12-year-old. He said the information received at that time, was the name and address of the “possible suicide victim” from the officer on the other line.

 

Coroner Renee, with a look of incredulity, sought clarity on this revelation. It was further explained by Bynoe that not all emergency calls go directly to the Emergency Ambulance Service.

In fact, the ambulance officer revealed that some of the newer numbers of one of the service providers do not go directly to the Ambulance Service, but go directly to the Police.

 

It was at this point that the Coroner reiterated the importance of the report requested from the Police, which included the time the call was received, and possibly any voice recordings of what was said between the person making the call and the officer on the other end of the line, before the call was made to the Ambulance Service.

 

She remarked that in some circumstances, persons are given medical information over the telephone to render assistance to someone in need of medical attention. The Coroner, therefore, concluded that the details from the RBPF on the night of the call would be critical in the case.

 

Bynoe also told the Court there are no protocols as it relates to the RBPF placing emergency calls to the QEH. He added that there have been meetings with the two entities in the past, on the need to document contact information when a call is received by the RBPF before calling for an ambulance.

 

Yesterday’s proceedings in the Coroner’s Court was attended by Weekes’ family members, Director of the Child Care Board Joan Crawford and members of the Ambulance Service.

 

Clarista Daniel, great-aunt of the deceased, spoke briefly to the media after the adjournment and expressed disappointment that the family would have to wait yet another week for a ruling. She said the proceedings showed that certain agencies leave a lot to be desired as it relates to operational procedures. (JH)