The family of the late Joy St Omer is calling for an independent review of the systems used to respond to the case of the deceased St Omer. Joy, who was 24 years old, was killed in her car on May 20, 2026. Police have charged a suspect with her murder.
St Omer’s mother, Bertilia St Omer, in a press conference on August 18, said her daughter repeatedly sought assistance from the police, courts and government agencies before her death, arguing that her case raises serious questions about the effectiveness of existing protections for victims of domestic violence.
“My daughter Joy asked for help. She asked again and again,” Bertilia said.
She outlined the various institutions her daughter approached in an effort to obtain protection and legal assistance.
“Joy left no stone unturned. She went to the police at Marigot. She went to the police at Anse La Raye where she resided. She went to the police at Rodney Bay where she worked. She went to the ministry responsible for gender relations,” she said.
Bertilia said her daughter also pursued legal remedies through the courts.
“She went to the courts, both high and lower courts, where a protection order was put in place for her,” she said.
She stressed the significance of the protection order, noting that such an order carries legal consequences.
“Under the law, an order like this is backed by the power of arrest,” Bertilia said.
According to her, Joy continued to report alleged breaches of the order when she believed it had been violated.
“The police themselves have said publicly that the order was still in force the day that she died. When she believed that the order had been broken, she reported it,” she said.
Bertilia said her daughter also sought legal assistance to end her marriage.
“She also went to a lawyer to begin her divorce. She did everything that the law asked,” she said.
She said Joy’s efforts to seek protection continued until the day of her death.
“On the morning of the day she died, she went to the police station one last time,” Bertilia said. “Just days after the bail was granted, hours after, she made her final report to the police.”
“Joy was killed while the protection order was still in place,” she added.
Bertilia also referred to a letter Joy wrote 13 days before her death, saying it demonstrated the level of concern she had developed about the institutions responsible for protecting her.
“13 days before she died, my daughter wrote a letter,” she said.
“You will note that in the letter she said she was losing confidence in the justice system. She said she felt unsupported, disregarded and disrespected.”
Bertilia said her daughter’s concerns extended beyond her own circumstances.
“She wrote something that was not about herself at all,” she said. “She wrote that the systems continue to fail many women in Saint Lucia and that women should feel heard, protected and taken seriously when they come forward.”
For the family, Joy’s case has therefore become part of a wider call for accountability and a closer examination of how reports of domestic violence are handled.
Bertilia also stressed that domestic violence should not be treated as a private dispute between individuals.
“Our law says that domestic violence is a crime against the state,” she said.
“Not a private matter between two people, nor is it a private disagreement that a woman must manage by herself.”
She argued that the legislation places specific responsibilities on the state and the institutions established to protect victims.
“It places responsibility upon the state and upon institutions established to protect us,” she said.
Bertilia further pointed to provisions requiring police to investigate reports of domestic violence.
“It says the police must look into every report, whether or not the woman herself makes it,” she said.
“It says the complaint belongs to the police officer and not hers.”
The family is now seeking public support for its petition for a Commission of Inquiry, with the proposed review intended to examine the circumstances surrounding Joy’s attempts to obtain protection and, more broadly, how Saint Lucia’s institutions respond to domestic abuse cases.