Families of murder victims are expected to demonstrate outside of parliament this morning to urge law makers to fix the ailing justice system.
The group will be led by the bereaved family of slain teenager Brenton Smith, who are also pushing for a speedy Coroner's Inquest into the boy's death. The protesters also want speedier criminal trials and more thorough police investigations into homicide cases.
Relatives of Preston Ferguson - who believe he was murdered and blame police for mishandling the investigation into his death - will also be present at today's demonstration.
Brenton's father Hector Smith told The Tribune yesterday: "Every month we plan to keep Brenton in the forefront of people's minds because someone needs to answer (for his death)."
So we decided to stand outside parliament and make our case."
Hector Smith
It is believed that Brenton, 18, was shot by a police officer shortly before 8pm on July 9 as he and a friend walked through a popular short-cut in the Kemp Road area used by many to get to the nearby foodstore on Village Road. He died at the scene.
Moments before, police had been chasing suspected armed robbers who held up a cashier at the supermarket.
police have said that they do not suspect that Brenton was in the store at the time of the robbery, while the family maintain he was an innocent pedestrian caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A few weeks after his death, the police released a statement admitting that the teenager was shot by a police-issued service weapon. What happens next will be determined by the outcome of a coroner's inquiry, however, a date for an inquest has not yet been set.
Mr Smith said until then his family, a close-knit clan that has been torn apart with grief since the boy was shot, cannot remain silent. "Brenton really is our catalyst - he has inspired us. We know he is all well with the Lord, but there are so many things that need to happen in our country. Instead of taking $10 million to fix the roads, let's take $10 million and fix the justice system," said Mr Smith, referencing the government's recent spending on the national road improvement project.
The Smith family plans to set up a foundation in Brenton's name to help troubled young men to have a better future.
The family also wants to partner with anyone who has lost a loved one in a homicide. They can be contacted through the website www.thebrentonfoundation.com or at Facebook.com/brentonhectorsmith.
Source: The Tribune
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The group will be led by the bereaved family of slain teenager Brenton Smith, who are also pushing for a speedy Coroner's Inquest into the boy's death. The protesters also want speedier criminal trials and more thorough police investigations into homicide cases.
Relatives of Preston Ferguson - who believe he was murdered and blame police for mishandling the investigation into his death - will also be present at today's demonstration.
Brenton's father Hector Smith told The Tribune yesterday: "Every month we plan to keep Brenton in the forefront of people's minds because someone needs to answer (for his death)."
So we decided to stand outside parliament and make our case."
Hector Smith
It is believed that Brenton, 18, was shot by a police officer shortly before 8pm on July 9 as he and a friend walked through a popular short-cut in the Kemp Road area used by many to get to the nearby foodstore on Village Road. He died at the scene.
Moments before, police had been chasing suspected armed robbers who held up a cashier at the supermarket.
police have said that they do not suspect that Brenton was in the store at the time of the robbery, while the family maintain he was an innocent pedestrian caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A few weeks after his death, the police released a statement admitting that the teenager was shot by a police-issued service weapon. What happens next will be determined by the outcome of a coroner's inquiry, however, a date for an inquest has not yet been set.
Mr Smith said until then his family, a close-knit clan that has been torn apart with grief since the boy was shot, cannot remain silent. "Brenton really is our catalyst - he has inspired us. We know he is all well with the Lord, but there are so many things that need to happen in our country. Instead of taking $10 million to fix the roads, let's take $10 million and fix the justice system," said Mr Smith, referencing the government's recent spending on the national road improvement project.
The Smith family plans to set up a foundation in Brenton's name to help troubled young men to have a better future.
The family also wants to partner with anyone who has lost a loved one in a homicide. They can be contacted through the website www.thebrentonfoundation.com or at Facebook.com/brentonhectorsmith.
Source: The Tribune
2 Comments Add this link to... Bury
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Comments
Yes, at least people speaking out.
The focus in this country is unwarrant. The John Travolta case is a waste of the tax payers money.In America News stations and various magazines bid everyady on info about movie stars etc.what we should focus on is issues that is close to home,real cases.However,I am glad to see that more Bahamians are advocating for whta they believe in.