303 / 494
302
10.84.
Finally, we wish to emphasise that, during the Enquiry, no
issue was raised that the JDF did not produce records of the locations
of bodies. Counsel for the JCF did not put in issue to the witnesses of
the JDF that they made no record of locations of bodies. As we
understood the evidence, Lt. Col. Ogilvie testified as to the recovery of
bodies and their transportation to KPH and later to the funeral home.
On 22 October 2015, Lt. Col. Ogilvie testified that he was clear that
dead bodies “were to be notified to the JCF”.
10.85.
In para.53 of his witness statement, Lt. Col. Ogilvie stated
that by 26 May, “after the shooting had subsided, all the bodies that
were in the area of operation had been removed to the funeral
parlour”. Under cross-examination by Mr. McBean, Lt. Col. Ogilvie said:
“By the end of 25 May, I had reports of 16 bodies
within 1JR’s area of operation. They were removed
on 26 May, I was pressing for them to be removed on
25
th
. But on that day there was still gunfire in
Hannah Town and Denham Town. The bodies were
removed by the funeral parlour. I was not satisfied
with the pace of removal. At the area of Regent
Street and North Street, I saw a dog going to smell a
body and I instructed that a truck be gotten to drive
around, collect bodies and take them to Madden’s.
By mid-afternoon, no bodies were in the area.
Madden’s were working with the JCF. Where the
bodies were found, were not marked or delineated as
crime scenes.”
10.86.
Ms. Martin’s brief cross-examination of Lt. Col. Ogilvie did
not explore the evidence elicited by Mr. McBean to raise any issue as to
the propriety of the JDF’s conduct in this matter. However, it seems to
us that there was a lack of proper coordination between the two
branches of the security forces in respect of the recording of
information about dead bodies and the demarcation of possible crime