Monday, 19 April 2021 06:55

JCF ends investigation into alleged assault involving JLP MP George Wright

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The Jamaica Constabulary Force says the investigation into the alleged assault involving Westmoreland Central  MP George Wright has come to an end at this time.
In a statement on Friday, April 16, the JCF said it had begun investigations into a physical altercation between the Mr. Wright and business woman Tannisha Singh.
 
However, the investigation has come to an end at this time as the parties involved and potential witnesses are unwilling to participate in the investigation.
 
Additionally, the statement pointed to the poor quality of the video capturing the incident.
 
It said Mr. Wright and Ms. Singh made independent reports about a physical altercation on April 6.
 
Ms. Singh's report was made at the Anchovy police station, while Mr. Wright went to the Ramble police station, both in Hanover.
 
According to the statement, given Ms. Singh's physical state, the police escorted her to a medical facility for treatment but she was asked to return to the station to give a formal statement. The police however revealed that attempts at securing said statement have proven futile.
 
Mr. Wright, it continued, was also asked to seek medical attention and return to give his statement, however, he was unwilling to do so.
 
When a video of a physical altercation between a man a woman began circulating on April 11, the police say an officer was assigned to identify the source of the footage.
 
The release said on April 12, a preservation order for the video was served on the holder and the Communication Forensic and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) subsequently extracted the footage. 
 
On the same day, attorney Abel Don Foote made contact with the police on behalf of Mr. Wright, stating his willingness to attend an interview. Mr. Wright was interviewed in the presence of his attorney on Wednesday, April 14.
Ms. Singh was interviewed in the presence of her attorneys on Thursday, April 15, 2021. 
 
In both interviews, the parties made it abundantly clear that they had no intention to pursue the matter further and would not cooperate with the police investigations into the matter.
 
According to the JCF, the poor quality of the footage and the unwillingness of persons at the location to cooperate with its investigations has made it impossible to conclusively identify the persons captured in the video.
 
It added that even if the footage was of the highest quality, the police would not have been able to mount a case that met the basic evidentiary standard without the cooperation of the parties involved.
 
The statement further said that despite best efforts, statements have not been forthcoming in connection with this probe and, as such, the investigation has come to a natural end. However, if either or both parties wish to revisit the matter at a later date, the police are willing to resume investigations accordingly.