![Prime Minister and Minister for National Security Philip J. Pierre [PHOTO CREDIT: OPM]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PM-Philip-J-Pierre.jpg)
Labeling the situation a ‘national outcry,’ the Security Minister stated that such conduct is absolutely intolerable.
In the legal community, particularly regarding high-profile cases, reports of ‘missing evidence’ are intensely troubling. This shocking revelation regarding critical evidence disappearing in these homicide investigations heightens public concern.
“I expect the police to leave no stone unturned to determine what went wrong,” PM Pierre asserted at a media briefing on Monday.
He further emphasized, “While it’s certainly not good news, the police must employ all their investigative powers to determine how these exhibits vanished.” Addressing the victims’ families, he expressed, “This is a grave concern, and I urge the police to investigate thoroughly. This cannot be treated as a ‘cold case’; we must explore every avenue, and the police must wield all their investigative powers to resolve this matter.”
He reiterated, “This situation is deeply concerning for me and should alarm the entire country. We must achieve resolution.”
These cases, among the major criminal investigations on the island, are raising significant concerns about the operational efficiency of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
In a recent media briefing, Commissioner of Police Verne Garde expressed his dismay over this conduct occurring under his leadership. He confirmed the unsettling reality that key pieces of evidence have mysteriously vanished in these high-profile criminal cases involving the deaths of Kimberly De Leon and Shakadan Daniel.
Speaking candidly to the public, he stated, “We find ourselves in a situation where the exhibit has been removed from its sealed position and is no longer available for assessment… This is an unfortunate, tragic situation.”
This alarming development originated from the 2018 murder of Kimberly De Leon, an accountant in public service, who was shot to death in her home at Morne Fortune.
Investigators were actively pursuing leads, including forensic evidence.
Commissioner Garde noted that recent investigations revealed some “very, very good breakthroughs” in the case, rekindling hope for long-awaited answers. He condemned this latest twist as disturbing and a serious compromise to the breakthroughs achieved.
The urgency surrounding this matter involves a firearm sent overseas for testing. “We needed to secure the exhibits,” Garde explained. “We had to follow up with the exhibit room at the Special Services Unit Armory… as of today, we are not in a position to secure this exhibit.”
Equally troubling is the update on the 2013 death of Shakadan Daniel, a 22-year-old Micoud resident found hanged in a cell at the Micoud Police Station under suspicious circumstances. His death ignited national outrage and raised allegations of police brutality and misconduct.
“We have renewed our commitment to pursuing this matter,” said Commissioner Garde. “A search was conducted Monday to locate the primary exhibit: the noose allegedly used in the hanging.”
However, investigators discovered that the noose is missing from its sealed evidence container, a clear violation of chain-of-custody protocols that obstructs justice in the case.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, COP Garde stated that the disappearance of evidence signifies more than mere negligence: “The loss of any piece of evidence complicates closure. However, it also suggests the involvement of other parties with interests in this matter.”
Despite these obstacles, the commissioner pledged that law enforcement will vigorously pursue both cases.
COP Garde declared, “I refuse to oversee an institution where exhibits go missing. We will scrutinize this matter closely and intensify our efforts.”