Legal action possible: Police allegedly used false evidence, played dirty tricks
By Monique Washington
After two-and-a-half years confined in prison, Dustin Lapsey alleges he was wrongfully accused of murder. He wants to take the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police force to court for making up false evidence against him and playing dirty tricks to delay his case.
Lapsey was arrested on July 8, 2013, charged with the murder of Tonio ‘Dolla’ Hutton in Bath Village, Nevis. He was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison in St. Kitts July 9th.
In July 2014, Lapsey wrote to the High Justice of the Supreme Court in St. Lucia. A response was received in October, which resulted in his Preliminary Inquiry (PI). A date to review his claim was set in November 2014, but it took eight months for the court to call his PI on July 20, 2015.
Magistrate Yasmine Clarke determined the PI had been based on insufficient evidence. Lapsey was released on February 18. 2016.
During an exclusive interview, Lapsey told the Observer the police force made every effort possible to get him convicted and even made up false information to do so.
“A witness had shown up on the last day of the PI,” Lapsey explained. “The witness refused to sign his statement because the arresting officer wrote comments in the document he did not say.”
“The witness signed the video statement in the presence of the police and a lawyer, but my lawyer did not see it,” Lapsey explained. “The information shown in the video does not collaborate what was said in the written statement.”
Lapsey told the Observer the video is still hidden. He hopes his lawyer will subpoena the video as evidence in his lawsuit.
“They (the police) tried a lot of dirty tricks, like bringing me to court for the PI without notifying my lawyer,” Lapsey explained. “In addition, they turned down calls and cancelled sessions.”
Lapsey said what police supposed would be a two- or three-day PI went on for an exhausting six months.
“There were about five sessions and some lasted only a half-day,” Lapsey explained.
“I almost went crazy,” Lapsey told the Observer. “Sometimes your feel there is no hope. It is not easy, knowing you didn’t commit any offense and you are still in prison with a hangman’s rope over your head.”
“You worry about your family and their financial situation, your child and loved ones,” he said. “If you are released you fear someone might want to get even when you return home. It was very difficult to go through.”
Lapsey said now that he is out of prison it is hard to find a job because potential employers look at him as a “shady character.”
“I know there are some places I can’t go to seek employment because I know I will hit a brick wall,” Lapsey said. “I might seek employment in St. Kitts or overseas.”
Lapsey accuses the police of tarnishing his character by charging him with murder and now his life is in jeopardy.
“People might want to take my life because they think I might have killed their loved one,” Lapsey said. “It is all because the police have tarnished my name.
“I have heard people say it is only a matter of time before I go back to jail; or only a matter of time before someone kills me; but in the end I don’t worry about that,” Lapsey explained. “I don’t intend to commit any crimes. God gives life and takes it away, so when mine is to be given back to God that will happen.”
In conclusion, Lapsey said he would like to see the justice system cleaned up and the police held accountable for sloppy investigations and falsifying evidence.
“I would like to see the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) put a choke hold on the police so they do a thorough investigation,” Lapsey said. “Before proceeding with cases like mine, DPP’s crown counsel should review evidence to make sure they have enough for a conviction.”
