The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force says its investigation into the in-custody death of Shakadan Daniel has reached an advanced stage, with the High Command preparing to issue a definitive statement to the public.
Police Commissioner Verne Garde provided the update during a recent press conference after reporters pressed the police leadership for information on the progress of the closely watched investigation.
The inquiry has remained under intense public scrutiny, particularly following a High Court order requiring law enforcement authorities to provide a formal progress report by a specified deadline.
Garde said investigators are now close to completing the work needed before the police can publicly state their findings.
“In the matter of Shakadan Daniel, we are in a very advanced stage of delivering a definitive statement to the media, to the public, sorry, through the media,” he said.
The Commissioner explained that the police had initially hoped to make a public statement earlier in the year, but several setbacks delayed the process.
“I had planned to do so in or around May, but there were a few setbacks,” Garde said.
One of the outstanding matters involved a peer review of the forensic findings.
“We were waiting for a peer review from, I think, Mr. Walker. That is a forensic pathologist,” he said.
Garde indicated that the completion of that review would allow the police to finalise their position.
“And after that review, we would be able to make a definitive statement,” he said.
The Commissioner did not provide further details about the findings or indicate when the final statement would be released.
Daniel’s death while in police custody has attracted considerable attention, with questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remaining a matter of public concern. The High Court’s intervention has also placed additional focus on the police’s progress in completing the investigation and reporting on its status.