Senior Police officer arrested, charged, and granted bail for alleged murder

The police in Dominica have arrested and charged one of their own on allegations of murder.

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Superintendent Matthew Cuffy appeared before Magistrate Pearl Williams on a charge of murder laid by acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Valentine for that he  Matthew Cuffy did murder Kerwin “Slobby” Prosper on February 15, 2021, contrary to law.

The prosecution team is led by Trinidadian Keith Scotland and State attorney attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Dania Matthew.

Gina Dyer Munro and Zena Moore Dyer from the law chambers of Dyer & Dyer are representing Cuffy in the matter which was adjourned to November 18, 2021. The disclosure was ordered on or before October 18, 2021.

Since murder is a capital offense and bail can only be granted by a high court judge, the DPP consented to bail, and by consent, the judge granted bail in the sum of EC$150,000.00 with one surety.

Cuffy was to surrender his travel documents and must seek the court’s permission before traveling.

Prosper who was well known to the police was assisting them in the investigations of a series of robberies when he complained of feeling unwell while in their custody. He died shortly thereafter under a cloud of suspicion.

In March, a three (3) member CARICOM regional investigative team arrived on the island for two weeks at the request of the Dominica government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Kerwin Prosper while in Police custody.

The officers later filed for judicial review. But after hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Bernie Stephenson stated that “the Applicants application for Judicial Review has been denied.”

According to the judge, the action by the Chief of Police (COP) to investigate the officers touching the death of Prosper was in the public’s interest.

“It is in the greater public’s interest that the death of Kerwin Prosper who died in police custody be investigated,” she said. She further stated that the applicants do have other means and “alternative forms of redress if criminal proceedings are brought against them for abuse of process.”