ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Minister of Justice Collin Derrick is expressing concern about the investigative arm of the police force after a case against a teen accused of murdering a 10-year-old schoolgirl was dismissed for want of prosecution.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Maureen Payne Hyman ruled that there was no evidence against the teenage boy accused of fatally stabbing Jemuel Samuel, following at least four adjournments in the case at the request of the prosecution.

"That (the dismissal) raises some other questions as to the level of investigation that took place and as to whether or not those people charged with the responsibility of investigating this crime were as meticulous as they ought to have been," Derrick said. d.