But Musa says the family doesn't have to fear a cover up because, to put it frankly, it's the police's fault. He conceded this today, saying that they're not hiding from it or shifting the blame - it was negligence to the highest degree and if the family wants to sue, well, they would be well in their right.
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"This is not your ordinary run of the mill case. As a matter of fact, the police is saying, the Minister of Police is saying, the police is at fault here. So, its not a case where you have to worry any sort of cover-up. We are saying that the police is responsible, we are telling you right off the bat where we have identified the points of weaknesses and the missteps that have been made, but certainly the post-mortem and the forensics examination that will come out, if there is any sort of injury to that individual that might suggest there was another reason for his death, you can best believe that will come out from a post-mortem and you can best believe that the police department will take criminal action in the event there is any sort of suggestion that there might have been something on toward and not just an instance of complete and gross neglect."
Reporter
"So you concede that the police officers' actions or inactions led to Mr. Uh's death?"
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I concede that the inactions of the police officers definitely lead to his death."
Reporter
"Do you also concede that as the Commissioner did this morning that might as well if the family pass a civil suit, there is no contesting it."
Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I will go so far as to say that not just in the instance of Derrick Uh, ut in the instance of Laddie Gillett, in the instance of Alyson Major, in the instance of Mister Jules Vasquez's brother, there are all instances where there has been negligence by the police department. And these are instances - and I have said it previously in an interview - that I believe the focus of the attorney general's ministry in the civil suits is to assess the quantum that should be awarded to these families and it should not be cases that have to go to a court of law for determination because these are instances where it is clear that members of the police department - whether by action or inaction - caused the death of these four individuals."
