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<html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.nationnews.com:80/345365804827549.php","20080613155713","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1213372633"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>The Nation Newspaper | Confessions 'not enough'</title> <link href="/web/20080613155713cs_/http://www.nationnews.com/style/globalstyles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> </head> <body> <center><span class="printheader">NATION NEWS</span></center> <hr> <span class="printheadline">Confessions 'not enough'</span><br> <span class="byline">Published on: 6/7/08.</span> <br><br> <span class="byline">by BARRY ALLEYNE</span> <br> <span class="storyText"></p> <p> </p> <p><uppercase>CONFESSION</uppercase> may be good for the soul, but this region's police have been warned it may not always be enough for a conviction in a court of law. </p> <p>Principal Crown Counsel in the Director of Public Prosecutions Office, Anthony Blackman, yesterday warned a graduating class of investigators that it was paramount for police of the new millennium not to simply depend on confession statements from accused people to complete their cases. </p> <p>Blackman, himself a former policeman and instructor at the Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC) at Paragon, Christ Church, gave that advice to 31 lawmen from nine different Caribbean nations who had successfully completed a three-week criminal investigations course at the centre. </p> <p>The lawyer warned the lawmen that on too many occasions, accused people had been charged with crimes simply after confessions had been earned. </p> <p> </p> <p>Investigations </p> <p> </p> <p>"Your investigations should not just stop there, because if for some reason that confession is thrown out, then the case goes through the door with the accused person," Blackman told the graduates. "A confession doesn't mean your case is complete," he added. </p> <p>According to the prosecutor, trained police have to go the extra mile during investigations of crime, and they should always protect the rights of the accused in the process. </p> <p>He said there still remained a problem in Barbados' justice system, with too many police officers coming to court unable to properly provide evidence of their investigations. </p> <p>In fact, Blackman said, the phrase, "I do not recall" had become a sore point in criminal justice, especially when coming from the mouths of lawmen giving evidence. </p> <p>"Your evidence should be strong enough to let a jury make a decision based on what you say, not saying, 'I don't recall' or 'I don't remember'," he warned. </p> <p>The prosecutor also advised the police to be wary of becoming too friendly with attorneys, since they could be backed into a corner when presenting their evidence in court. </p> <p>In addition, he felt more police needed to attend court when not involved in criminal matters, so as familiarise themselves even more with the country's criminal justice system. </p> <p>Blackman also urged the course participants never to be tempted into corruption, since their integrity was of the utmost importance. </p> <p>Fourteen Barbadians completed the course, along with officers from Montserrat (3), Anguilla (2), Bermuda (2), Grenada (2), St Kitts/Nevis (2), Turks & Caicos (2), St Vincent and the Grenadines (2), and the British Virgin Islands (2).</p> </span> </body> </html>