A prosecutor in St Kitts-Nevis has found herself on the wrong side of the law, facing charges for allegedly helping a murder suspect flee the country to evade capture.
Crown Counsel Shantrice Dorset was slapped with six charges related to the assistance she gave to the man suspected of murdering 29-year-old Akeem Archibald. Archibald was shot with a high-powered automatic rifle on July 20, 2024.
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Dorset was denied bail when she appeared in the Magistrates Court and is currently on remand.
In a statement in which the charges were announced “with profound regret”, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said Dorset had helped the main suspect in Archibald’s killing, Khyron Philip, leave the country, by sea. He remains at large.
“Some time ago, upon receiving intelligence and being briefed on the matter, the Director of Public Prosecutions commissioned a special criminal investigation into Crown Counsel Ms. Shantrice Dorset. Following an extensive police investigation into the murder and efforts to apprehend the fugitive, Ms. Shantrice Dorset has been formally charged,” the statement read.
She faces three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and one count each of accessory after the fact to murder, misconduct in public office, and corruption.
According to the prosecution, Dorset not only allegedly assisted Philip in Archibald’s case, but also helped him out of the country to avoid trial for attempted murder in an unrelated matter. She allegedly advised and counseled Archibald based on her knowledge as a prosecutor to assist him in evading the police. It is further claimed, according to the DPP statement, that Dorset tried to use her influence as a prosecutor to get the firearm used in the murder surrendered under an amnesty program.
The DPP noted that charges relating to the possession of the high-powered automatic rifle believed to have been used in the murder have been previously laid against Philips’ close relative, Bejay Tuckett, who is currently awaiting trial on remand.
Though announcing the charges, the DPP stressed that Dorset was presumed innocent until proven guilty and urged the public to act “with maturity and refrain from speculating about this case based on rumors or publishing inaccurate information that could prejudice the fair trial of these charges”.
The statement added that any officers who leak information in the case would also be dealt with.
“Despite best efforts to contain information related to this sensitive case, leaks touching on the investigation have been noted. Any law enforcement officer found leaking information will face severe disciplinary and legal consequences,” it stated.
The Office of DPP expressed gratitude to the officers of the Violent Crime Unit, White Collar Crime Unit, Special Services Unit, and Cyber Crime Unit who have worked “around the clock” on the case against Dorset. (CMC)
