After 12 Years, Chacadan Daniel’s Family is Still Seeking Justice and Reform

The family of the late Chacadan Daniel has issued a statement calling for reforms to how police evidence is secured, better support for citizens seeking justice, and the establishment of an independent body to handle complaints against officers. 

The statement follows a recent revelation by Police Commissioner Verne Garde that a vital piece of evidence – the noose central to the investigation into Daniel’s 2013 murder – has gone missing.

More than a decade after Daniel was found hanging in a cell at the Micoud Police Station, his family says they continue to relive the trauma of the 22-year-old’s death, especially in light of the recent disclosure that key evidence has disappeared from police custody.

“The pain and suffering of Chacadan Daniel’s family is without measure. However, it is minimal compared to what Chacadan experienced prior to his unlawful death,” the family said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The case sparked national outrage at the time, and an official inquest later ruled Daniel’s death an “unlawful killing”, contradicting earlier claims by police that he had died by suicide. Yet, the family says legal progress has stalled, and they remain disheartened by what they see as systemic failure by the justice system.

“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has failed to have the issue addressed by the relevant court proceedings, as mandated by the law and constitution that we as citizens are required to uphold,” the statement said.

The family insists the issue is not political, but one of national importance that reflects broader concerns about accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights for marginalised communities especially.

In their statement, the Daniel family outlined three specific demands:

–        A review and reform of procedures for securing and accessing police evidence 

–        A more effective support framework for citizens seeking redress in cases involving police 

–        The establishment of an independent body to handle complaints against police officers 

The family also thanked the public and members of the legal community for continuing to support their calls for justice.

“We wish to thank the people of Saint Lucia… and the Commissioner of Police Verne Garde for the fortitude displayed in releasing the information regarding the removal of evidence,” they wrote.

While acknowledging the passage of time, the family says the pursuit of justice remains urgent.

“We must not allow wickedness to prevail,” they concluded.

Read the full statement from the family of Chacadan Daniel below.

Statement from the Family of Chacadan Daniel on the Disappearance of Evidence from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force

August 11, 2025

On July 31, 2025, the Daniel family relived the tragic killing of our loved one Chacadan Daniel, with the lack of accountability relating to missing evidence from a proposed secure location in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

The pain and suffering of Chacadan Daniel’s family is without measure. However, it is minimal compared to what Chacadan experienced prior to his unlawful death, while in custody at the Micoud Police station. It has been a long hard road – every anniversary of his killing and even this recent news continues to be very emotional for his mother and his siblings. We persevere so that no other family has to go through a similar experience, as justice delayed is justice denied! Our family reiterates the call for those with policy oversight to step in to ensure that this matter, as well as others of public significance, be addressed with a greater level of concern and jurisprudence.

The Saint Lucia Criminal Justice system has maintained a delayed response in this matter. Mr Daarsrean Greene successfully led the taxpayer-funded inquest into the death of Chacadan Daniel on the family’s behalf. The inquest ruled that Chacadan’s death was an “unlawful killing” and not suicide as was being propagated by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

Although we recognise it is the right of any citizen to advance professional pursuits, the lack of progress on the legal proceedings on the part of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions proved rather disheartening for the family. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has failed to have the issue addressed by the relevant court proceedings, as mandated by the law and constitution that we as citizens are required to uphold.

We wish to emphasise that the killing of Chacadan is not a political issue, it is a national issue which highlights the lack of due process, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights – particularly for marginalised communities!

While we recognise that quite some time has transpired on this matter, we are seeking the public’s support in ensuring that Chacadan’s killing results in some form of policy response, we must not allow wickedness to prevail.

We, the family of Chacadan Daniel, are calling for:

1. A review of the procedures for securing and accessing evidence, with the aim of instituting appropriate reforms which should include allocation of additional resources and “‘tighter” control measures. 
2. The implementation of a more effective framework of support for the public when seeking redress in such matters (his mother tried at varying levels and the community failed even to gain permission from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to have a walk to draw attention to the killing of Chacadan – a clear abuse of power in trying to quell the voice of the people). 

iii. A review of the procedures related to complaints against police officers, citing the need for an independent body.

We wish to thank the people of Saint Lucia for echoing the calls for justice for Chacadan Daniel and others who lack a voice; the media; Ms Mary Francis, Human Rights Attorney; The countless attorneys who have provided us with guidance and the Commissioner of Police Verne Garde for the fortitude displayed in releasing the information regarding the removal of evidence related to the killing of Chacadan.