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Commissioner of Police Responds to Media Reports on Marie Kuhnla Inquest

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#TurksandCaicos, June 15, 2022 – “At the outset, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands were shocked and saddened that Mrs. Kuhnla, a wife, mother and attorney for vulnerable people came here for her holidays but did not return home. The Jury at her Inquest have returned a verdict of homicide by manual strangulation.  This Inquest spanned seven days of evidence and the Jury deliberated for more than seven hours, over two days and everyone involved in this case, Mrs. Kuhnla’s loved ones, and the general public owe them a great debt for their service and dedication to their task.

“Unfortunately, there has been much inaccuracy and untrue sensationalism reported in the media, particularly in other jurisdictions in regards to this inquest.  It would not have been appropriate for public officials, like His Excellency, Governor Nigel Dakin, the Honourable Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles QC and myself to comment on the many erroneous and misleading facts published in the international press while the matter was before HM Coroner Jolyon Hatmin and the Jury, who were tasked to return a verdict on how Mrs. Kuhnla passed.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, as in the United Kingdom, commenting on proceedings that are before the Court is not permitted as it can prejudice those proceedings.  However, it is now fair to comment, as those proceedings are at an end and it is appropriate to do so.

“One inaccuracy repeatedly reported is that this inquest is a “review” of a previous finding.  That is simply not the case.  This is the first and only inquest into the death of Mrs. Kuhnla.  After the Ministry of Health Pathologist, Dr. Michael Robert Steckbauer determined that the cause of death was “manual strangulation” on the 25th of October 2018, a murder investigation was immediately launched by senior members of the R&TCIPF.  In the Turks and Caicos Islands, as in the United Kingdom, it is customary and best practice for an inquest to be held either at the conclusion of a murder investigation, or where an investigation has exhausted all the avenues of inquiry or any related criminal court proceedings have concluded.  Otherwise, any police investigation or a fair criminal trial is in danger of being compromised by a premature inquest, thereby potentially denying justice for the deceased and their loved ones.  In the wake of the gradual lifting of restrictions surrounding protective measures to combat the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, jury trials resumed in earnest in the Turks and Caicos Islands in March this year and this inquest was scheduled almost immediately thereafter.

“The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have always maintained an open mind as to the circumstances of the passing of Mrs. Kuhnla and given the views of the pathologist, a murder investigation was initiated and pursued with vigor.

Forensic analysis of evidence was sought and biological samples, were analyzed by an independent American forensic analysis laboratory.  Statements were taken from tens of potential witnesses, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation were used as a liaison and cross jurisdiction Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty provisions were utilized to assist in the investigation, two sets of interviews were conducted in the United States with potential witnesses and officers travelled to the US to communicate with the family of Mrs. Kuhnla.

“The Jury heard evidence that Mrs. Kuhnla arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on 10th of October, 2018 with her friends for a week-long holiday in a local resort.  Immediately, her friends were concerned that another guest had attached himself to her and was plying her with large amounts of alcohol.

Evidence suggests that this man was a nuisance, her friends did not like this man and one accused him of indecent assault as he had touched her posterior in the resort pool. The same friend gave evidence that she had never seen Mrs. Kuhnla intoxicated before this holiday and was surprised that she was uncharacteristically inebriated at times, this was corroborated by other guests.

“The Coroner and Jury further heard evidence that Mrs. Kuhnla was not usually a drinker as she suffered from a seizure disorder and other medical conditions.  Indeed, her toxicology analysis post mortem revealed that were prescription drugs in her blood prescribed for that seizure disorder, bi-polar disorder, depression and insomnia.  The Inquest heard evidence from her friends that she had suffered a number of falls during her holiday that they had once again attributed to her uncharacteristic drinking.  One of her friends remarked to the RTCIPF that she had bruising on her leg the last day she had seen her on the 14th of October, 2018.  Another guest who met Mrs. Kuhnla close on his arrival at 2:30 pm, again on the 14th of October, 2018 gave evidence that she was “very slurred in her speech ‘and it was “indiscernible” what she was trying to say.

“The Coroner and Jury heard that her friends last saw Mrs. Kuhnla on the evening of the 14th of October, 2018 at around 7 pm.  On the 15th of October, by the afternoon, her friends became very concerned that they had not seen her since the night before.  They began to search the resort as they feared that she was unconscious on the property due to her seizure disorder and the fact that she had been, again unusually for her, drinking heavily.  The RT&CIPF were alerted and arrived at about 7 pm that evening due to those concerns, they examined her room and the room of the acquaintance so disliked by her friends, but nothing was out of place and they left.  She had been missing less than 24 hours at that time.  Early on the 16th of October, 2018, one of Mrs. Kuhnla’ s travel companions and a fellow guest discovered her body in the bush near the resort’s soccer pitch.

“As Dr. Steckbauer reported, she was found in bush with her face in a downward position, with debris in her mouth, upper airway, her clothing was askew, and the back of her blouse/beach wrap torn.  He conducted the autopsy on the 19th of October, but as he attested, he was unable to ascertain all of the elements that could be associated with manual strangulation as the body was more decomposed than would have provided for an optimum autopsy.  In his report dated the 28th of October, 2018, Dr. Steckbauer concluded that due to hemorrhaging of the strap muscles, dirt and debris in the mouth, bruises on the legs, abrasions of the legs and arms, a fractured rib, the manner in which she was found, her torn clothing and the crime scene photos, that Mrs. Kuhnla had died by manual strangulation.

“During the course of the inquest, he did concede that he did not have knowledge of her seizure disorder, the medications found in her toxicology, her uncharacteristic drinking and her falls earlier in the week when he came to that conclusion however, when questioned he asserted that now knowing these factors, none of them would change his finding.

“This statement cannot deal with all the inaccuracies and unsubstantiated comments made in relation to the sensationalist reporting of these proceedings, it could fill pages and pages. The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands do not deserve the slant quite bluntly stated in the reporting of this matter.  It has been alleged in the American media that the justice system of in these Islands would conspire with a tourist resort to cover up the alleged sexual assault and murder of an innocent woman to prevent adverse publicity.  This is as preposterous as it is insulting and offensive.

The motivation for such a contention may be considered in future proceedings and will not be commented on here, all that will be said for now is that this Coroner and Jury have demonstrated through their hard work, attention and consideration in hearing this Inquest and reaching their verdict, that prejudicial innuendo cannot replace facts.

“Mrs. Khulna’s death was investigated by an experienced detective, Assistant Superintendent Williams, a senior officer in CID in the RT&CIPF of some 27 years’ experience. The role of the investigator is a ‘search for the truth and this is achieved by maintaining an open mind as to the circumstances of a person’s death and how they came about their passing.  It was for this reason that ASP Williams offered potential alternatives as to how Mrs. Kuhnla met her death band these were explored during the Inquest for the jury to consider.   At the conclusion of the inquest, they decided that Mrs. Kuhnla was unlawfully killed and that judgement is accepted by the RTCIPF.

“Whilst no one has been charged in connection with the death of Mrs. Kuhnla, no investigation is ever closed and if any further lines of enquiry are identified, then they will be followed up vigorously.   As a matter of course, we will consider if any new information has come about as result of the inquest.

“The last three and half years must have been very difficult for the family of Mrs. Kuhnla and I am certain the last week during which time the Coronal inquest was held would have been hard to bare for the family and friends of Mrs. Kuhnla.

“As with any legal process, we must not forget the human side of this tragedy and I speak on behalf of the TCIG Government, the RTCIPF and the entire Turks and Caicos Islands when I pass on our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Kuhnla.

Bahamas News

Camp Inclusion tours Nassau Cruise Port

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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Participants of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting’s Camp Inclusion, including the camp’s student advocates, recently toured Nassau Cruise Port in a move designed to produce multiple benefits for the children.

Camp officials said the tour was part of the “moving away” from the old tradition of keeping children with disabilities locked away at home, and towards greater social inclusion for persons with disabilities – especially children.

Facilitated by the Community Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting at the Flamingo Gardens Family Life Centre, the camp is a collaborative effort between the Ministry, its Community Affairs and Disability Affairs Divisions, the Bahamas Coalition of Advocates for Disability Awareness and Service (BaCADAS), and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). The majority of the Camp Instructors are persons with disabilities.

The Camp is in keeping with the Global Family Day 2024 theme of “Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families,” and is an extension of the Ministry’s continued efforts to take the lead in ensuring access and inclusion for all — particularly the community of persons with disabilities — in every aspect of society.

Children with different levels and types of disabilities, along with student advocates, participated. Its focus was to ensure that participating youth learn about living with mobility and intellectual disabilities, advocacy, inclusion and accessibility.

Mr. Townsley Roberts, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, said the visit is expected to have a number of expected outcomes.

“It was very important to get the kids out and for them to see parts of the island that they rarely get a chance to experience,” Mr. Roberts said. “It was also an opportunity for them to feel a part of the Bahamian society because many times they are kept at home or just in the classroom (and) so this gives them a chance to spread their wings; an opportunity to dream. You never know, something they saw today can spark their imaginations and some may become artists, want to work in the tourism field or even just to try and experience a cruise. The ability to dream, to feel a part of society, to feel included, is important to the growth of all children, including persons with disabilities.”

Mr. Roberts applauded officials at Nassau Cruise Port for agreeing to the tour, which he said also allowed chaperones to inform the student advocates of some of the aspects that makes a facility accessible and inclusive.

“We are so happy that the Cruise Port allowed us the opportunity to come and tour the facility. As the name of the camp goes, what we are promoting is inclusion — total inclusion in all aspects of Bahamian society including the culture, and the open spaces. We want to make sure that all spaces are accessible and one of the things we know, because we had the opportunity to inspect the cruise port, is that the Port is accessible to persons with disabilities. So why not bring the children – including the student advocates — here as a means of helping them to understand and to witness first-hand what accessibility means and how it, or the lack of accessibility, affects the lives of persons with disabilities.”

Mr. Antoine Munroe, a Camp Instructor and employee of the Disability Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, said access and inclusion ensures that every person is able to achieve the same outcomes whether in social, educational, or employment settings, and are the best methods of ensuring that persons with disabilities are given the same opportunities to participate in society. He applauded the inclusion of the student advocates in the camp.

“It is a passion of my own to see young people included and exposed to the life of persons with disabilities. Being able to tour the facility gave me an understanding of how I can use my cane to move about with a little assistance and I thought that was very, very smooth. I congratulate those persons who were able to cause this to happen, and also the persons in charge of the Nassau Cruise Port.  I think this is a very good step in the right direction,” Mr. Munroe added.

 

Release: BIS

(BIS Photos/Patrice Johnson)

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Bahamas News

National Commission for Persons with Disabilities gauges ‘accessibility’ at ZNS, BIS as part of ongoing inspection schedule

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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Inspectors attached to the Inspectorate Division of the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) conducted assessments of the facilities at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, and Bahamas Information Services, Tuesday (July 23) as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure that all public facilities, and those private facilities that provide services to members of the public, are accessible for all.

Both entities fall under the remit of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting as does the Secretariat.

The team was headed by Mr. Townsley Roberts, Deputy Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and included Mr. G. Michael Ellis, Senior Inspector; Mr. Wesley Paul, Inspector; and Mr. Thorne Clarke, Inspector.

Deputy Executive Secretary Roberts said the inspections were two-fold.

“Today we are inspecting ZNS and BIS which are both a part of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting to ensure that they are accessible because it is our belief that we cannot ask the public to do the things required by law without first ensuring that our entities are also in compliance,” Mr. Roberts said.

“People need to understand that accessibility to persons with disabilities is just as important as it is to persons without a disability. We want to be able to go about your day-to-day business without any obstacles in our way.

“What makes us disabled is the built environment, the barriers in front of us. If you remove those barriers, then we can do many of the same things persons without disabilities can do, and sometimes better. So this is what we are about. We are trying to make The Bahamas a place for all persons (and) where it will be comfortable for persons with disabilities to be able to manoeuvre through buildings and other spaces with the same ease and comfort expected by everyone else.”

The inspection team conducted assessments of wheelchair ramps, bathrooms, office spaces, and parking and reception areas, and measured doorway and hallway widths, in addition to other spaces to ensure that the requirements as set out in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2014, are met.

Mr. Ellis, who spent 34 years as a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force before retiring as a Senior Police Officer and who brings that same knowledge of the law to his new role, said the inspections help to ensure that the community of persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights to accessibility as any other citizen.

“Persons with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs, persons with walkers, crutches and those who use other assistive devices such as canes, should be able to move around just like everyone else,” Mr. Ellis said.

“We were looking to make sure that there were accessible bathrooms for both males and females, to ensure that there are proper ramps and that the ramps are the proper sizes, to ensure that all of the offices are accessible and all of the other areas are accessible for persons with disabilities.

“The Act says whatever we, as able bodied persons can do, a person with a disability should be permitted or allowed to do the same without any hindrance. Our job is to ensure that these facilities are in compliance with the Act.”

Once inspections are completed, Adjustment Orders are sent to those facilities/businesses found not to be in compliance with the Act, advising them of any faults, and providing a time-frame for compliance.

 

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)

Release: Bahamas Information Services

 

PHOTO CAPTIONS

 

Header:  – ZNS/BCB

Left to right:

1:  G. Michael Ellis – Sr. Inspector (NCPD)
2:  Thorne Clarke – Inspector (NCPD)
3:  Townsley Roberts – Deputy Executive Secretary (NCPD)
4:  Wesley Paul – Inspector (NCPD)
5:  Carlton Smith – Chief Security Officer (BCB)

Insert:  – BIS
Left to right:

1:  Elcott Coleby – Director General (BIS)
2:  Wesley Paul – Inspector (NCPD)
3:  Townsley Roberts – Deputy Executive Secretary (NCPD)
4:  Carlton Smith – Chief Security Officer (BCB)
5:  Thorne Clarke – Inspector (NCPD)
6:  G. Michael Ellis – Sr. Inspector (NCPD)

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Crime

Shooting Incident

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***MEDIA RELEASE***

 

July 23rd, 2024.

 

Around 10:59 am, the Police Control Room received a call of gunshots at a location along the Millennium Highway, Providenciales.

Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force were dispatched and, based on preliminary investigations, were told that the occupant (s) of a red Suzuki Swift was at a business place when another car pulled alongside it, and the occupants started shooting.

The driver of the Swift drove off while the other unidentified vehicle sped off in a separate direction. 

Officers found the Swift abandoned near Miracle Close, Blue Hills, shortly after.

Based on investigations, no injuries were reported.

This remains an active investigation.

The RT&CIPF is asking anyone with information or CCTV footage of the shooting that may assist the police with enquiries to contact 911, the closest police station, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and anonymously give any information.

Additionally, persons are being asked to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app.

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