Bahamas: Most suspects charged with murder last year already on bail
Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said yesterday most of the individuals accused of murder last year are already on bail.
Fernander commented after two more murders were recorded in The Bahamas.
A reporter asked him whether it is demoralising to police to see the number of murder suspects on bail.
“Yes. It can be,” he responded.
“When you look at the [number] of individuals who were charged last year, and the [detection] rate is high. You don’t see that in the world when you’re talking about over 60 per cent [detection] rate concerning homicides.
“And out of that 67 per cent, you are looking at between 80 to 90 matters solved, and if you were to do your research, you would note that most of those individuals are on bail as we speak. That’s a problem.”
Successive commissioners of police and national security ministers have lamented that many individuals thought to be responsible for murders were individuals on bail for other murders.
Many of the victims have also been individuals charged with murder which ended up on bail.
Last June, Prime Minister Philip Davis said the courts have to pay more attention to individuals who will be out on bail.
“The courts have to take control of their trials so that people can have trials,” Davis said.
“I mean, the backlog of cases is just astronomical and is almost nearing the [brink] of collapse in my view.
“And so, the courts must step up, and they need to hear these cases.”
The bail issue and legislative changes over the years have remained controversial, given that suspects have a constitutional right to be tried within a reasonable period.
The judicial system has been plagued by a chronic backlog of cases, preventing many suspects from getting early trial dates.
Many end up on bail. Police say this contributes significantly to high crime rates.
The Bahamas – in particular New Providence – continues to experience significant levels of violent crime.
Yesterday, police reported two more murders.
One occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Red Land Acres area, according to police.
The victim, a 32-year-old man, was sitting in front of a residence when a male exited a black Suzuki Swift and fired multiple gunshots at him.
An 18-year-old male of Kennedy Subdivision was arrested in connection with the crime, police said.
The second killing happened shortly before 2 a.m. yesterday in the area of Armbrister Street, Fox Hill, police said.
Relatives identified the victim as Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer Alvarez McCoy, 30, who had just pulled up home when he was shot. He died soon after in hospital, police said.
There have been nine murders since the start of the year, according to Nassau Guardian records.
Fernander said yesterday that his soon-to-be-released policing plan for 2023 strongly focuses on prevention.
He added, “We’re looking forward to a good year working with the legal department to take these individuals off the streets who continue to offend and get bail.
“I’m talking about individuals on bail for two and three murders, and something is wro. We’re looking at swift justice, swift justice to be able to move quickly before the courts.
“Individuals who are found in possession of a firearm, 95 per cent of the serious crimes that are occurring, the weapon of choice is a firearm, so we want to work hand in hand with the … justice system to make sure that it works and we will do our part as law enforcement.”
The Bahamas ended 2022 with a murder count of 128 – a 7.6 per cent rise over the 119 murders reported in 2021.
The highest number of murders recorded in the country was 146 in 2015.
There were 73 in 2020; 95 in 2019; 91 in 2018; 122 in 2017, and 111 in 2016.
Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said yesterday most of the individuals accused of murder last year are already on bail.
Fernander commented after two more murders were recorded in The Bahamas.
A reporter asked him whether it is demoralising to police to see the number of murder suspects on bail.
“Yes. It can be,” he responded.
“When you look at the [number] of individuals who were charged last year, and the [detection] rate is high. You don’t see that in the world when you’re talking about over 60 per cent [detection] rate concerning homicides.
“And out of that 67 per cent, you are looking at between 80 to 90 matters solved, and if you were to do your research, you would note that most of those individuals are on bail as we speak. That’s a problem.”
Successive commissioners of police and national security ministers have lamented that many individuals thought to be responsible for murders were individuals on bail for other murders.
Many of the victims have also been individuals charged with murder which ended up on bail.
Last June, Prime Minister Philip Davis said the courts have to pay more attention to individuals who will be out on bail.
“The courts have to take control of their trials so that people can have trials,” Davis said.
“I mean, the backlog of cases is just astronomical and is almost nearing the [brink] of collapse in my view.
“And so, the courts must step up, and they need to hear these cases.”
The bail issue and legislative changes over the years have remained controversial, given that suspects have a constitutional right to be tried within a reasonable period.
The judicial system has been plagued by a chronic backlog of cases, preventing many suspects from getting early trial dates.
Many end up on bail. Police say this contributes significantly to high crime rates.
The Bahamas – in particular New Providence – continues to experience significant levels of violent crime.
Yesterday, police reported two more murders.
One occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Red Land Acres area, according to police.
The victim, a 32-year-old man, was sitting in front of a residence when a male exited a black Suzuki Swift and fired multiple gunshots at him.
An 18-year-old male of Kennedy Subdivision was arrested in connection with the crime, police said.
The second killing happened shortly before 2 a.m. yesterday in the area of Armbrister Street, Fox Hill, police said.
Relatives identified the victim as Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer Alvarez McCoy, 30, who had just pulled up home when he was shot. He died soon after in hospital, police said.
There have been nine murders since the start of the year, according to Nassau Guardian records.
Fernander said yesterday that his soon-to-be-released policing plan for 2023 strongly focuses on prevention.
He added, “We’re looking forward to a good year working with the legal department to take these individuals off the streets who continue to offend and get bail.
“I’m talking about individuals on bail for two and three murders, and something is wro. We’re looking at swift justice, swift justice to be able to move quickly before the courts.
“Individuals who are found in possession of a firearm, 95 per cent of the serious crimes that are occurring, the weapon of choice is a firearm, so we want to work hand in hand with the … justice system to make sure that it works and we will do our part as law enforcement.”
The Bahamas ended 2022 with a murder count of 128 – a 7.6 per cent rise over the 119 murders reported in 2021.
The highest number of murders recorded in the country was 146 in 2015.
There were 73 in 2020; 95 in 2019; 91 in 2018; 122 in 2017, and 111 in 2016.
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