From RCIPS

Today, Thursday 12 December, the Commissioner of Police, Kurt Walton, supported by senior officers, Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown and Sister Islands Area Commander Malcolm Kay, held a press conference at RCIPS HQ to brief the media regarding yesterday’s arrest of three persons on suspicion of murder in relation to the death of Cayman Brac toddler, Alissady Powell.

“This has been a tedious and protracted investigation”, said Commissioner of Police, Kurt Walton.  “We accept two years comes across as a very long time, however, given the cases significance and complexity, as a police service, we owe it to Alissady to conduct a thorough and meticulous investigation in the pursuit of justice into her death”.

“In doing so, this case has required engagement with numerous overseas medical professionals and subject matter experts.  This expertise included a paediatric forensic pathologist, neuropathologist, Professor of Paediatric Radiology, Cardiac Pathologist and other experts specialised in child deaths”, continues Commissioner Walton.  

Sister Islands Area Commander Malcolm Kay, who is based in the Brac, and was among the first responders on the day the initial report of a “missing child” was received, says “the death of a child is always devastating, and this particular case, due to the unique nature of the incident, has been particularly tragic”. “We understand the significant public and media interest in this case.  One which has cut to the heart of the Cayman Brac community, and the Cayman Islands as a whole”.  

Within the last few weeks, RCIPS investigators have completed their review of the various specialist reports, which solidified next steps, resulting in the arrest of the three persons, on suspicion of murder, child neglect/cruelty and accessory after the fact.

“Ultimately, the pathology shows, that the child was dead before she entered the water”, says Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown.  “There were three people at Alissady’s home at the time this happened, and that has resulted in the arrest of those three individuals”.

The three individuals are being held in custody, as investigations continue.

At this point, the investigation has been running over two years. The case has been challenging in a number of ways, especially when considering the need to secure specialist skill sets that are not available on island.  “Some of the specialists we have sought, make up only a handful of people available with their particular skill set”, says D.Supt. Lansdown.  “To get them to commit to come out to Cayman, has meant we have had to work around their schedules and commitments, and this all adds time.  But, for us to progress the case it was vital we secured high calibre, appropriately qualified and vetted specialists that we could depend on”.

The RCIPS is satisfied that the investigation has progressed to deliver the three arrests, but wants to highlight that the investigation still has a long way to go.  The next step being submission of the file to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) for review and legal ruling.

“This result goes some way to provide answers to family members and the community, and especially to the community of the Brac, for whom we know, this case has deeply affected”, says CoP Walton. “Since becoming Commissioner, each time I have visited the Brac, this case is raised with me.  People want answers, and rightly so.  I said then, and will repeat now, that we are committed to exploring every avenue of this case, and that means that no expense will be spared in investigating the death of this child”.