By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
DESPITE HAVING a suspect in custody, the St. James police investigations into what is believed to be a case of a sexual predator preying on primary school children has hit a snag, as parents are withholding the co-operation of their traumatised children.
According to St. James' crime chief, Deputy Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, because some of the 15 children (all girls) have been so badly affected by their ordeal, their parents are reluctant to allow them to participate in the planned identification parades. This is out of fear that they might be exposed to additional trauma. The children range in age from six to nine years old.
"Some of the children are so badly traumatised that they are having nightmares," said DSP Knight. He told The Gleaner that of the 15 cases reported, only three of the children have attended arranged ID parades. "The parents are not willing to expose them to any further trauma. Our only remaining option is to rely on evidence we have collected and submitted for DNA testing," he said.
Regarding the suspect, who is now in custody, DSP Knight said that based on information collected during a search of his house, the police are quite confident they are not only looking in
the right direction, but that they have the right man. While refusing to give details of the evidence they have found, the crime chief noted that no other incident has taken place since the suspect was held.
"Let us put it this way, we have seen things at his house that have caught our interest," said DSP Knight. He described the suspect as a mentally disturbed individual.
According to reports, within the past two months, the predator has attracted the attention of the unsuspecting children by telling them that he has a letter, or package, which he wants delivered to their teacher. He would eventually drag them into bushes and sexually assault them.
In at least two instances, the young victims reported that in addition to being brutally raped, they were also savagely beaten for failing to comply willingly to the dictates of their attacker. It is the combined brutality that has reportedly made the children afraid to participate in the ID parades, the police believe.
The suspect now in police custody was reportedly held just over two weeks ago. His detention was as a result of police intelligence, which identified him as a person of interest.
