Top official welcomes public participation in crimes’ inquiry

26th July 2000

By Nigel Regan - Bermuda Sun

SUPREME Court judge Stanley Moore is encouraging widespread participation in the upcoming inquiry into how serious crimes are investigated and prosecuted in Bermuda.

Justice Moore was responding to comments he read, online, in a Bermuda Sun interview with Don Dovaston, the former British deputy chief constable who will also be sitting on the inquiry.

In that interview, Mr. Dovaston said David Middleton, the father of murdered Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton, could rest assured the bungled case would not be diluted during the inquiry.

Speaking from the Bahamas yesterday, Justice Moore said: “I have read the Bermuda Sun on the Internet and I am aware of what Mr. Dovaston said. I don’t wish to disagree with anything he said — he has expressed himself in his own way — but I would like to emphasize that the commission has terms of reference and we’d like to try and follow these as best we can.”

Justice Moore said he was fully aware the inquiry was sparked by the Middleton case but added that it is not the only case under the microscope.

“I, too [in addition to Mr. Dovaston] have been doing some homework. I have read a fair amount of background material and there’s more I’ve got to read before I come to Bermuda.”

Calling himself “media friendly,” he added: “I am hoping that as many individuals and organizations as wish to be heard can be accommodated. Requests have already gone out for written submissions and we will try to make ourselves available to as many groups as would like to speak to us.”

Justice Moore, whose daughter Susan works at Bermuda’s Women’s Resource Network, is no stranger to the island and as a former Attorney General of Montserrat, he says he understands the context in which overseas territories operate.

“I bring to this inquiry some background experience in working in an overseas territory,” he said. “By and large the standards they are expected to maintain are so much higher than, say, newly independent territories.”
He added: “I’m a hard- working person. This is a serious inquiry and the commission has to approach it seriously. There’s a lot of hard work that has to be done.

“The commission has been set up by the Governor as a response to genuine public concern and my hope is the report we produce will contain recommendations that will help to address whatever shortcomings exist.” The inquiry starts on August 7.

Comment: 

There is a difference between ‘don’t wish to disagree’ and the categorical ‘don’t’ disagree.  Strange that Mr Moore should choose those words (assuming the reportingto be accurate) with regard to Mr Dovaston’s comments.  

Just which of Mr Dovaston’s comments does Mr Moore take issue with?  

s the working partnership already questionable?  

The comments by Mr Moore suggest, Mr Dovaston’s remarks conflict with the terms of reference.  Can Mr Moore not assure the island that the enquiry will follow the terms of reference? 

Presumably the terms of reference will define ‘serious’, with regard to crime?  But what about crime itself?  What will the definition extend to - drugs, assault, burglary, I trust someone will look beyond the obvious and consider, for example, the miscarriages of justice and oppression present within the police 'service'.

We shall see.