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Crime 1997
July 1997.
Drug squad review
The Dominican-born judge Telford Georges has been
appointed to head an inquiry into the Bermuda Police narcotics squad. The squad was
castigated in court last month when one officer accused another of trying to get her to
change her statement. There was no evidence that anybody was trying to frame an innocent
person, but it was clear that an effort was made to get statements changed.
Also serving on the commission of inquiry will be former
Cabinet Secretary Ken Richardson as well as a yet-to-be-named senior overseas police
officer.
Narcotics investigators to be
investigated
Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness has promised a
detailed and independent inquiry into the Bermuda Police narcotics squad, after a drugs
trial collapsed last week over questions of police handling of the evidence. Judge Norma
Wade directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts against Ellsworth Wilson, accused of
possessing $50,000 worth of cocaine, after as detective claimed other officers had
pressured her to change her written statements to match their own.
Mrs. Wade called the police conduct
"reprehensible"; it was also slammed by Attorney General Elliott Motley.
Comment: NO ACTION TAKEN?
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