We also got Saldivar to comment on the case with Rasheed Eligio. Eligio is the 18 year old who was shot and killed by Punta Gorda police in mid-May of this year. Since then, none of the pursuing officers have disclosed who fired the fatal shot, and an in depth investigation has been conducted backed up by ballistics testing to see which gun the bullet came from. But charges have still not been brought – and we've learned this week that the case file has been sent from police to the DPP, and now its back at the police, directed to the Commissioner.
The problem is that while investigators know which gun killed Eligio, they don't know who was handling the gun; in fact, there is conflicting evidence as to which pursuing police officer was in possession of the firearm when the fatal shot was fired. The DPP has concerns over the way the investigation is being handled and concerns over the account given by the police officers so she has sent the file back to the Commissioner.
While this back and forth goes on, Eligio's family wants long delayed justice. We asked Minister Saldivar about it today.
Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security
"I imagine that all that needs to be done now is for the police to complete the investigation - so whatever it is that the DPP has said is deficient in the files, the investigators will have to return to do that work."
Reporter
"Sir, the three cases include police killings or are about police killings and what the DPP is saying is that she wants to see the commissioner use his offices to ensure that the police are doing their job, not only because it's about them."
Hon. John Saldivar
"Yes and I agree with the DPP that we must do a full and thorough investigation and justice must be done. So if the DPP has directed that she needs more information and more investigation then it will be done."
Commissioner Whylie is expected back in office next week.
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