-Alleged Murderer Found Not Guilty on All Charges

By A. Dawson

Imagine facing life in jail for a crime you did not commit: this is what might have happened to Jermaine Paris. He was accused of killing officer Ariel Frett on February 8, 2007 in Hospital Ground near the Lionel Roberts Stadium. He was also facing 13 charges from the crime, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, possession of stolen property, five counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, two counts of third-degree assault, and first-degree assault.

I am upset about the police trying to charge Jermaine with the murder because at first when his younger brother Basheem Ford was alive, he was the accused killer. Due to the fact that he was shot to death by Market Square two years later, he could no longer be held responsible. So the blame was being put on Jermaine. There were five witnesses in this case: Officer Lorne Clarke, VITRAN bus driver Cecil Dewindt, and Hospital Ground residents Elvin Chinnery, Margaret Glasford, and Carlos Williams who was also injured during the shooting.

According to the Daily News on April 20, 2010, Officer Clarke said,

I was in a vehicle headed south toward Jarvis Annex. I heard the first shot then I heard what appeared to be shots fired a second time. Then I looked in my rearview mirror and saw someone ducking. So I stopped and exited my vehicle with my weapon in my hand. While I was running to where the shots were being fired I saw two black males fighting. I didn’t recognize any of them. One fell on the ground, the other stood over him and fired several shots. I said, ‘Police, stop.’ He looked at me and fired several more shots at the person. I tried to get a better look at the person ran, looked at me, raised his gun at me and I fired several shots. The person ran and collapsed on Goat Street at Lima Grocery. I heard more shots fired in the area where the two men were initially fighting. I ran to that area and there was a man standing with a gun. I recognized the person as a friend who I only knew from school as Jermaine. I yelled out, ‘Drop the gun.’

He pointed the gun and I ran across the street behind a VITRAN bus for cover. Paris fled and I went to the person I had shot.[This was Ford, who was injured, not killed.] The EMTs were there taking care of him. I went back across the street where the other person was in between two buildings lying on the ground. As I approached, I recognized him as an officer [Frett] who worked with me in St. John.

The first time Clarke was questioned about what happened, he said he saw a group of people attacking Frett on Bjerge Gade and Paris was at the center repeatedly hitting Frett on the head with a rock. Why didn’t he say that in court on Monday? However, during his cross-examination on Thursday Clarke, said he did not see Paris shoot at anyone; Paris was not the person he saw that shot officer Frett.

DeWindt said,

I saw Frett and someone struggling with a gun. I heard a shot before the two men came out fighting. Someone came from Goat Street and hit Frett with a block. I saw another individual come out from Goat Street with a gun, went over to where the two people were struggling and fired some shots. A police officer came out of his car with a gun in his hand. When the police were coming the other person who fired the shots went back into the garage. I don’t know what happened; the officer came back out, running to the side of the bus. The only person shooting at us was the guy who came out of the car [Clarke].

Glasford said,

I was on the verandah with my daughter as I was leaving the house to go to Lima Grocery. I saw Frett chasing Paris with a big pick-axe stick, swearing and threatening that he was going to kill one of you all. Just minutes before that I saw Paris at the entrance to where he lives. Officer Frett blocked him and he couldn’t pass. Mr. Frett had a big stick and when Jermaine tried to pass, Frett swung the stick at him. He didn’t hit him. Jermaine ran up behind my husband’s car on Goat Street. He was running and holding his pants. Frett ran behind him. I don’t know if they turned right or left. About five minutes later I heard plenty gunshots. I heard different types of shots. It was like fireworks. I saw six other guys running down the street. Basheem fell and then I saw this officer with his gun telling him not to move. He was standing over Basheem. He didn’t have on a police uniform. I stayed on my porch. I saw Jermaine come back up the alley and a guy told him his brother got shot. I heard him say he’s going back down to call his mommy. At that time I did not see Paris with a gun.

Williams said,

I was going back to the Lima Store across the street. I saw Frett running with a stick in his hand. He came out an intersection. I didn’t think anything of it. When I almost reached the store, I heard a bunch of gunshots rang out I felt one and I left. It hit me in the right arm. I kind of stumbled and I ran to where I was staying. I asked my neighbor Mario Frett, to help me to the hospital because I got shot.

Williams also said he did not see Paris fire a shot or on that day.

Based on all the testimonies and evidence presented, there is no way that Paris should have been found guilty. The prosecution did not have enough evidence to convict him. I feel officer Clarke’s statement of what happened that day was not completely true. Paris was acquitted of all 13 charges, and the judge told him that he was a free man. Judge Carroll said, "You have been given a second chance and I don’t ever expect to see you back in my courtroom."

Jermaine Paris and his mom left the courtroom shedding tears of joy because they were so happy that he was found not guilty.

In my opinion, the police wanted Paris to be convicted of the crime. They wanted someone to be held responsible for killing a fellow officer. Since Paris’s younger brother Basheem was killed in 2009, the police then tried to pin him with the murder. I am very happy justice was served and that Jermaine does not have to sit in jail for the rest of his life for a crime he did not commit.

Smithen, Corliss. "Trial in Frett murder starts today." Virgin Islands Daily News. 19. April 2010, 8.

Smithen, Corliss. "Frett murder trial begins.” Virgin Islands Daily News. 20 April 2010, 8.

Smithen, Corliss. "Bus driver describes events leading up to officer’s slaying."

Virgin Islands Daily News. 21 April 2010 7.

Smithen, Corliss. "Prosecution rests its case in Frett murder trial.”

Virgin Islands Daily News. 22 April 2010, 8.

Smithen, Corliss. "Alleged Murderer Found Not Guilty on All Charges"

Virgin Islands Daily News. 23 April 2010, 8.