Police plea for social media restraint

Detectives have urged islanders to “think before you post” unconfirmed details about serious crimes on social media sites.

The call comes after Malcolm Outerbridge’s sister, Malcishia, discovered that her brother had been murdered after a stream of comments were posted on Facebook while she was studying in the UK.

Raushaun Codrington was jailed indefinitely for the murder of Mr Outerbridge last week at the Supreme Court.

But it is not the first time concern has been raised about irresponsible and disturbing messages being posted on Facebook in Bermuda before family members have been informed.

And previously a shocking image of a shooting victim was circulated on BBM Messenger just moments after the killing.

Police say it is a “perennial problem” they face in the aftermath of shootings and murders and urged members of the public to put themselves in the victim’s family’s place before circulating rumours.

Chief Inspector Nick Pedro said: “A challenge in the Codrington case was that news of what had happened appeared on social media very quickly.

“We have to go through a very thorough procedure of identification and ensure all the next of kin are aware of what has happened before an identity can be release.

“And unfortunately this was the added stress that the Outerbridge family had to contend with.

“People need to allow us to do our job. Sometimes the information on social media is not accurate.”

Inspector Dave Greenidge, who was Senior Investigating officer in the Codrington case added: “It has to be an individual, principled and moral decision by members of the public.

“They must ask themselves would I want to find out about a dead relative in this way. People have to examine their own consciences.”