Commissioner Ausbert Regis Due to Resume Work on Tuesday After 17-month Absence
The case of assault brought by police superintendent Albert Fregis against acting commissioner John Broughton continued on Thursday October 2 in the Castries Magistrate's Court with testify from the prosecution's final witness.
Corporal Bertrand Xavier corroborated evidence previously given by Assistant Superintendent Moses James on Friday September 26.
Xavier claims to have also overheard Fregis loudly telling Broughton to leave him alone, to stop assaulting him and allow him to pass on his way to his office.
The prosecution rested its case, after which defense lawyer Mark Maraj made a no-case submission. He argued in effect that the case against Broughton should be dismissed, because the prosecution had failed establish the elements of the alleged offense.
The case is being heard in C-Court by Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, who adjourned the matter to October 17th.
Meanwhile, today Friday October 3 is the last day on the job for Mr. Broughton, an Englishman who was recruited two years ago along with nine compatriots to help strengthen the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
Following his end-of-contract leave in mid-November, Broughton has indicated that he intends to depart Saint Lucia for his homeland.
He's repeatedly expressed hope that the court case against him by Fregis will be concluded by then.
However the matter has been adjourned several times since it commenced.
In related news, the man who still holds the substantive position as Saint Lucia's Commissioner of Police is due back on the job on Tuesday October 7.
Ausbert Regis was appointed to the post in 2003, but last year was ordered to take all outstanding vacation leave.
As a result, Mr. Regis has been away from the police force since April 2007 or about 17 months.
Observers point out that this means the commissioner had only about 6 months of interaction with the British police officers during their two-year stint, which was intended, among other things, to strengthen his own leadership capabilities.
They say Regis would therefore have benefited little from the presence of the Englishmen, one of whom was selected to replace him as Acting Commissioner during his lengthy absence.