Dana Seetahal’s murder case has possibly run cold and her relatives are now calling for more investigators to be assigned to the case. In an interview last week, Seetahal’s younger sister, Susan Francois, said it has been months since the police contacted them to give an update on the killing.
Last month marked one year since the special State prosecutor was ambushed and assassinated on May 4 while driving along Hamilton Holder Street in Woodbrook just after midnight.
“Some of us are thinking the case has already run cold. We are not heartbroken or disenchanted. We are angry because we believe the length of time that is passing,” Francois said. “The lack of update by the Police Service shows a lack of disrespect for the memory of our sister and what she has done for this country. It disrespects her efforts at improving the police service and undermines her efforts at providing training opportunities for them. This long delay makes us angry because it seems there is no end to the investigation until people forget.”
Asked whether she agreed with President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Anand Ramesar that new investigators should be assigned to high profile cases, Francois said she could not say for sure whether or not current investigators were ineffective, as she had no idea who was involved in the probe.
“I don’t know who the team comprises of. Based on the responses so far from the Commissioner, he did indicate they were professionals and all resources required were being channelled at the investigation,” Francois said. However, because of the slow pace of the probe, Francois, who is head of T&T’s Financial Intelligence Unit, said new investigators should be appointed to supplement the existing team.
“I would want to think that the Police Commissioner is concerned about the length of time this is taking and yet the case has not been resolved. If it is a matter of priority, then he would also want a speedy disclosure,” Francois said. She said since Seetahal’s death, the family has been traumatised.
“We are trying to fill this big hole that has been left in our lives. We are going through a very traumatic time and we want to appeal to the Commissioner of Police because he is responsible for this case being solved as well as other cases. We do not want him to give us cliched reassurances but to have a conclusion in this matter quickly because too much time is passing,” Seetahal said.
To date, no one has been detained or charged for the crime.
CoP RESPONSE
Asked whether police had completed their investigation into the Seetahal murder probe, Williams said updates would be given in due course. He said lead investigator, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime and Support, Glen Hackett was in charge of the case. Saying he was allowing investigators to take the lead on their cases, Williams said he could not give any details.