Forensic body says police officer is accountable for corpse storage fee

Corporal D Douglas, who is assigned to the Hunts Bay Police Station, has been informed by the Forensic Institute that he will have to bear the cost after a post-mortem requisition was received outside of the 48-hour window for such request.

On May 28, 2021 Clarence Dumont died under unknown circumstances but a request for an autopsy was not submitted until June 9, 2021.

In a letter to the corporal, a copy of which has been viewed by Old Harbour News, the Forensic Institute said it is only responsible for storage cost of the body effective from the date the requisition was received.

“This email is to advise that the Forensic Institute will cover the storage cost from the date we received the requisition (June 9, 2021) to the date of post-mortem. Prior to June 9 2021 Cpl. D. Douglas will be held accountable for the storage fees on the grounds that the Force Orders indicate that a request for post-mortem must be submitted within 48 hours of the time of death,” a communication from the forensic department stated. 

“Therefore, in light of the fact that the Forensic Institute was not sent a request until June 9, 2021, we cannot be held accountable for the storage of the body.”

The Forensic Institute operates as an independent investigative body under the Ministry of National Security.

The body is been stored at Tranquillity Funeral Home, which has a contract to handle corpses in care of the state.

Tranquillity says daily storage fee is $5,000 however, this is waved if the family of the deceased chooses them to handle the funeral arrangements.

It is understood that the officer in question must submit a report to his superior justifying the late requisition to the forensic institute.