The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has released additional details surrounding the events leading up to the killing of 24-year-old Joy St. Omer, amid growing public criticism and questions regarding how her estranged husband was granted bail weeks before her death.
Police say the disclosure forms part of efforts to address mounting public concern while investigations continue into the homicide of the young mother and youth activist.
St. Omer’s estranged husband, 34-year-old Primus Toussaint of Belvedere, Canaries, has since been formally charged with murder and remains in custody.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas, who is attached to the Major Crimes Unit, provided a detailed chronology of the matter during a media briefing on May 28.
According to Defreitas, the first official report involving the couple was made at the Anse La Raye Police Station on February 19, 2026, when St. Omer reported an assault.
Police said St. Omer was interviewed and referred to the Family Court for intervention. Later that same day, she returned to the police station with an interim protection order valid for three days, along with a summons requiring Toussaint to appear before the Family Court on February 24.
Defreitas said officers immediately accompanied St. Omer to the residence she shared with Toussaint in order to serve the court documents and assist her in safely leaving the property.
“On February 24th, 2026, Ms. St Omer along with Mr. Toussaint did appear at the family court and at that seating, the interim protection order, or the protection order rather, was extended for six months,” Defreitas stated.
Police say further reports were made less than two weeks later.
“On Saturday, March 8th, about 6.15 p.m., Ms. Joy St Omer again reports to the that she was assaulted at her mother’s residence by Primus Toussaint,” Defreitas explained.
The Assistant Commissioner said officers made several attempts to locate Toussaint before launching a coordinated operation between Canaries and Marigot.
“On Wednesday March 11, after several attempts were made on the days previous to arrest Mr. Primus Toussaint, an operation was launched which extended between Canaries and Marigo in an effort to locate Mr. Toussaint,” he said. “Mr. Toussaint was eventually arrested at his residence about 9 a.m. that March 11th.”
Defreitas confirmed that Toussaint was subsequently charged with multiple offences linked to the alleged incidents.
“On Friday the 13th day of March, Mr. Toussaint was formally charged with two counts of breaching the protection order, one count of harm, one count of assault, one count of threats,” he stated.
Police had reportedly objected to bail when Toussaint first appeared before the District Court, resulting in his remand to the Bordelais Correctional Facility. However, investigators later learned that he had applied for bail before the High Court.
Defreitas said police received notification from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the application on April 21.
The Assistant Commissioner noted that he later reviewed the recognizance document signed at the High Court and confirmed that the judge considered the earlier decision denying bail before granting Toussaint release under strict conditions.
“The bail conditions included, but not limited to, the fact that he was not supposed to go within a hundred meters of Miss Joy St Omer,” Defreitas explained. “He seemed to have agreed to move to Canaries where he also shared a residence with other relatives.”
Defreitas further stated that Toussaint was ordered to surrender his travel documents and prohibited from attempting to leave the country without permission from the relevant authorities.
“Of course, his travel documents were to be surrendered to the state. He ought not to have applied for other travel documents or attempt to leave the state without informing proper authorities,” he said.
The Assistant Commissioner also revealed that on May 7, St. Omer submitted a written document to the Anse La Raye Police Station indicating that she no longer wished to pursue the pending matters.
“On May 7th, 2026, Miss Joyce Santoma tenders omissive to the Ancillary Police Station which in short indicated her unwillingness to continue or pursue the matters,” Defreitas disclosed.
He noted, however, that investigators are still examining the broader circumstances connected to the granting of bail and the events that unfolded before the homicide.
“The circumstances leading to the bill I am still looking into, and we’ll report on these at a subsequent date,” Defreitas stated.
St. Omer was fatally shot on May 20, 2026, in Marigot. Police investigators confirmed that Toussaint later turned himself in accompanied by his attorney. He has since been charged with St. Omer’s murder.
“Of course, the homicide occurred on May 20th and as you know, Mr. Primus Toussaint has been charged with the murder of Joyce Santoma,” Defreitas added.