Outspoken Attorney at Law Mary Francis has called for an inquest into last week’s fatal police shooting in Choiseul where officers opened fire on a man, identified as Sylvester Modeste, alias ‘Jumper’.
According to the police, Modeste attacked them in a bid to escape custody at the Choiseul police station.
A police release said Modeste had earlier brutally attacked his former domestic partner with a cutlass on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
The release disclosed that the fatal shooting occurred the following day at about 12:40 p.m.
“There needs to be a Coroner’s inquest according to the Coroner’s Act Section 16,” Mary Francis said regarding the Choiseul incident.
Francis said she had heard nothing from the police except that they were investigating.
However, she lamented that although the police have announced such investigations in the past, people do not learn of the outcome.
Francis said that there would be chaos without accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
She also said the public would not have confidence in the police, who are doing important work and must set an example in complying with the law.
In addition, the Attorney at Law declared that the Coroner’s legislation needed updating and reform to have an independent office with its investigators, separate from the Magistrate who sits as a Coroner.
“The same way we could have a Special Prosecutor now, I think we need to have a special office of Coroner,” she asserted.
Francis, the National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights, recalled that the chopping victim, Agatha Frank, told the media that the police should not have killed her partner of thirty-eight years and the family’s sole breadwinner.
Frank said she wanted justice for the deceased.
Francis said it appeared there was a history of domestic abuse.
“It is sad that after thirty years of domestic violence advocacy starting with the Women’s Desk in 1985, apparently, the message is not reaching women to understand that they should not remain in abusive relationships,” the Human Rights advocate told St. Lucia Times.
This woman love criminals
HE WAS THE BREAD WINNER ACCORDING TO THE ABUSED —— hello ——– Ms. Francis no one intervened and the abused tolerated this abuse for 38 years ????????? – Lord have mercy – I hate to say this but if you depend on someone solely for your very existence you become a footstool – we all need to go out and make a living for ourselves for all that we need by doing a legitimate job. The job may not be what you want – but at least you can start somewhere – “where there is a will, there is a way”.
Ms. Francis if you are for human rights – may I suggest that you conduct workshops to assist those women in St. Lucia who may very well be in the same situation of ongoing abuse/domestic violence – use your skills to help the victims flee before and not after because it may be too late. Amen.
Francis said it appeared there was a history of domestic abuse.
“It is sad that after thirty years of domestic violence advocacy starting with the Women’s Desk in 1985, apparently, the message is not reaching women to understand that they should not remain in abusive relationships,” the Human Rights advocate told St. Lucia Times.
Before you simpletons go after Mary, please remember she is a HUMAN RIGHTS lawyers. The type of lawyer whose job is to hold the government to account if it tries to infringe on your rights as guided by the constitution and UN Charter. Just like you go to a dermatologist if you have a skin issue and a cardiologist if you have a heart issue. Leave the lady in peace.
@Just Saying – stop name calling – you need to understand this is a public forum where folk are entitled to their own opinion. We all know what Human Rights lawyers do – however, they can also use their skillsets to help their fellowman by presenting the government with proposals for the welfare/well being of the St. Lucian citizens.
Teach the abusers, criminals and lawbreakers that they must stop infringing on the human rights of persons! The debate on human rights cannot start at the point when the people who have no respect for human rights meet justice!
Smh! Where was Mary Francis when the victims of all the killings that was going on in the South of the island and persons left thier homes for safety and all of thier belongings was stolen
Ms. Francis. you are a human rights lawyer, right? So what about the rights of children in unsafe homes in St. Lucia? What about the rights of citizens in the work place? What about the rights of women in abusive relationships? So you are only concerned about the rights of persons shot by the police? Is that where the money is for you? I would like to believe that your studies as a human rights lawyer would have taught you that this encompasses much more than the rights of persons in altercations with the police. Smh
@Minion, that’s not Mary Francis job, we have the whole judicial system from the police up to the CCJ to protect and take care of citizens rights within the law. Mary Francis job kicks in when that same system that suppose protect the citizens breaks the law and violate the citizens rights.
SMH. What you mentioned are not human rights issues. Mary Francis is a human rights lawyer. The type of lawyer whose job is to hold the government to account if it tries to infringe on your rights as guided by the constitution and UN Charter. GOVERNMENT. Not people. Jesus Christ you people.
Anonymous, there is a difference between opinion and fact. Having a differing opinion doesn’t change what she is and what her job is. Yes y’all are simpletons if you can’t discern that.
@Minion well said and again well said. This lady Mary will one day experience a shock of her life and will only then come to terms with reality and justice. Casting a blind eye on the horrendous act by the criminals and blaming law enforcement for prudent behaviour.
SMH
She’s asking the right questions
@En ben bon so why isn’t she taking up Kimberly De Leon’s case? According to her mother, the police force and the DPP are tight lipped and nobody is helping her. Shouldn’t Mary be stepping in here to help the family get answers from these institutions?
Mary may be doing her job as described by “Just Saying”, but her approach is a form of harassment and interference. The incident happened and within minutes she had already jumped on the band wagon, not even waiting for a formal investigation and subsequent report. Police kill criminals every day in countries advocating for human rights around the world and their approach can be worse than ours. Most, if not all of their investigations are internal. Their usual excuse for using deadly force is because they thought their lives were threatened. Who disputes that ? End of story.
@Seinfeld I totally agree with you in this case, as we all know a law enforcer is connected to the victim.
That woman is just one sided that is why I can’t agree with her both woman and child suffering nothing to say before the police take out a criminal she in the news
That woman is just one sided that is why I can’t agree with her both woman and child suffering nothing to say before the police take out a criminal she in the news
So let me get this straight….a human rights lawyer who only reacts when the human right of people who infringe on others’ human rights are dealt with? In a country riddled with crime? I worked for the UN for years…don’t drag them into this woman’s selective work appetite!!!!!!!