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Nickera Smith case getting highest priority - RVIPF

- CoP Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews declines to discuss details of the case or say how close investigators are to finding out who did it
Remains unearthed at Hawk’s Nest on Tortola on March 29, 2016 have been said to be positively identified as being those of Nickera Smith who went missing in February this year. The 22 year old was an employee of Colonial Insurance. Photo: Provided
New Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews said that while the Nickera Smith murder case is being treated with the highest priority, he was not prepared to disclose how close investigators were to cracking the case. Photo: VINO/File
New Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews said that while the Nickera Smith murder case is being treated with the highest priority, he was not prepared to disclose how close investigators were to cracking the case. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwyn James and Superintendent of Crime Alexis Charles. Photo: VINO
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwyn James and Superintendent of Crime Alexis Charles. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- New Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews said that while the Nickera Smith murder case is being treated with the highest priority, he was not prepared to disclose how close investigators were to cracking the case.

He was speaking on Tuesday May 3, 2016 during a press conference held at Police Headquarters on Waterfront Drive on the main island of Tortola.

Remains unearthed at Hawk’s Nest on Tortola on March 29, 2016 have been said to be positively identified as those of Nickera Smith who went missing in February this year. The 22 year old was an employee of Colonial Insurance.

Virgin Islands News Online had first and accurately reported that the body was positively identified as Smith's.

“You will all be aware of the missing young lady from the islands which is sadly now a murder inquiry. And that is receiving top priority by the Superintendent (of Crime) as we speak,” Matthews said during the press conference.

However, when asked whether the RVIPF is close to solving the case, Matthews said, “I am not going to make any comment on whether we are closer to solving any case because that would be unfair to the detectives. And you will never see me talk about the details of an ongoing inquiry like that.”

The Commissioner said he was not prepared to make public the forensic report of the remains found.

“We will be in breach of all of the criminal laws if we made that available. Because that will form a critical part of any prosecution and the only people allowed to see that in advance are the investigators and the Director of Public Prosecutions," he said.

Matthews spoke of the dangers of making such information public in advance as it could hamper the Prosecution's case.

"If we put an offender on trial and that offender's defence stands up and says 'you shared half the evidence with the press in advance therefore my client cannot get a fair trial', what you will see is serious offenders getting off time and time again,” he said.

16 Responses to “Nickera Smith case getting highest priority - RVIPF”

  • resident (05/05/2016, 15:34) Like (2) Dislike (20) Reply
    Pure talk and pr from mike
    • And!!!!! (05/05/2016, 21:57) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      See, you are just trying to be nosey. Let the man do his job. The public should not be privy to any information concerning the young lady.Like I said, let Mr. Matthews do his job. I believe he is going to crack this case and a lot more.
  • I agree (05/05/2016, 15:44) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Not everything needs to be shared with the public...some of us to Fast, when the time is right it will be shared...but we cannot expect Police to go about just letting out the information they have, when time comes to prosecute it will be problems
  • In Full Support (05/05/2016, 15:50) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    Please work hard to solve this one. If you’ll can solve this one, you and your team deserve our Highest Respect to start. From what I have gathered from these articles, this young lady was not involved in any criminal activities, nor affiliated with any type of questionable gangs. She was just a regular Law abiding resident. This sicko (or sickos) who have taken the life of this innocent young lady desperately need to be caught, dealt with, and vanished from amongst us. These are the times I wish we had corporal punishment in placed again.
    • Correct (05/05/2016, 22:23) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      That is the reason it hit so many people so hard even if you did not know her. I hope when they catch the person who did this, they hang them from a tree upside down and tie a burlap bag full of scorpions or rats over there face. Sorry to say this but once you take a person life you are no longer human and you need to be punished. Jail is to good and easy for the person.
  • Thanks (05/05/2016, 18:05) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thanks for not releasing any information to the public about how she died. The only person that should know about this is her parents. And parents please keep that information to yourselves. Mr. Matthews, this crime hit a lot of people including myself hard. Did not know her but it shook me up. Please track down the barbaric sick demented person who did this. We don't need a person like that living in our mist.
  • wize up (06/05/2016, 05:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    what next?
  • right on (06/05/2016, 07:59) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Chase them Lord Jesus give them no rest until they confess to her mother. Chase them with an arrow and shot them down amen
    • yes (06/05/2016, 18:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Whoever did this when they go to sleep, it is on there mind. When they wake up it is on there mind. The worse is when they see her parents.That person is DOOMED. They may as well turn themselves in because they are going to be running the streets stark buck naked screeming about something is after them. The guilt about what they did is going to eat them alive.
  • sirs (06/05/2016, 10:35) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    is there any truth to her making a heavy bank withdrawal just prior to going missing? if so, what happened to the money?
    a money reward for info won't hurt either. whatever it takes.
    • NOYB (06/05/2016, 15:52) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      @sirs thats none of your business.. police dont need to disclose any information regarding what you heard like the above comment said only her family should know
  • only saying (07/05/2016, 14:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    To the person/persons who commit this crime.
    Time & Karma: When a bird is alive... It eats ants. When the bird has die... ants eat it... One tree can be made into
    a million matchsticks... but only one matchstick is needed to burn a million trees! Circumstances can change at any time... Don't devalue or hurt anyone in this life... You may be powerful today but time is more powerful than you! Sincerely Karma. I hope you read this and understand what you did to another human and, the hurt and pain you cause to a family. Maybe you are just to stupid to understand.
  • Binocs (10/05/2016, 10:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is really sad..how can someone be so heartless and cruel to take the life of this young girl. RIP Nickera, can't believe just two weeks before your disappearance I wished you a happy New Year, never in my wildest dreams, would I even think that a few weeks after, I would hear this. Praying for justice for you..


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