Bermuda sends cops to Cayman

Bermudian police have begun a review of events surrounding the death of an officer in the Cayman Islands

The party of three officers arrived in Cayman this week to investigate the death of Cayman PC Raphael Williams.

The trio began work on Tuesday and will report their findings to Bermuda’s Police Commissioner, Michael DeSilva, before they are then made available to the Cayman Governor.

PC Williams was arrested on January 9, 2014, on suspicion of blackmail and breach of trust and suspended from duty.

He was released on police bail on January 10.

His body was then discovered on January 12 in a secluded spot off Colliers Wilderness Drive in the East End area.

A Cayman police investigation determined that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Cayman Police Commissioner David Baines said: “It is normal practice in the UK, and in other jurisdictions, that such circumstances would be subject to independent review.

“I felt it was important to ensure that the RCIPS also adopts this approach to ensure that all aspects of the arrest and death are reviewed in an open, transparent  and independent way.

“The enquiry team will outline their findings in a report to the Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service, who will then make the findings available to Governor Helen Kilpatrick

“It is anticipated that the report will be made public shortly thereafter.”

A press release sent out yesterday by the Cayman Police press office stated: “Following a directive from Police Commissioner David Baines that an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, and the subsequent death, of Police Constable Raphael Williams should take place, the review, by officers from the Bermuda Police Service, began on Tuesday.”