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Crime 1997

July 1997. 

Drug squad review

The Dominican-born judge Telford Georges has been appointed to head an inquiry into the Bermuda Police narcotics squad. The squad was castigated in court last month when one officer accused another of trying to get her to change her statement. There was no evidence that anybody was trying to frame an innocent person, but it was clear that an effort was made to get statements changed.

Also serving on the commission of inquiry will be former Cabinet Secretary Ken Richardson as well as a yet-to-be-named senior overseas police officer.

Narcotics investigators to be investigated

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness has promised a detailed and independent inquiry into the Bermuda Police narcotics squad, after a drugs trial collapsed last week over questions of police handling of the evidence. Judge Norma Wade directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts against Ellsworth Wilson, accused of possessing $50,000 worth of cocaine, after as detective claimed other officers had pressured her to change her written statements to match their own.

Mrs. Wade called the police conduct "reprehensible"; it was also slammed by Attorney General Elliott Motley.

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