There is a bizarre twist to the probe into May's police/military operation in West Kingston in which scores of persons were killed.
An investigation is being carried out into the disappearance of one of the bodies of the victims who died during the controversial three day incursion.
Earl Witter, Public Defender, Tuesday night revealed that the body of a man, which was to be autopsied, cannot be found after it was taken to a private morgue situated in downtown Kingston.
The Office of the Public Defender and the Bureau of Special Investigations are monitoring the search for the corpse.
Mr. Witter says attempts to trace it have so far been unsuccessful.
This body has to be traced, x-rayed and autopsied like all the others. Finger prints, photos and other indicia peculiars for this body have already been recorded what is necessary now is for us to find the corpse so the autopsy can be done, he said.
Public Morgue needed
News of the missing corpse follows last week's completion of autopsies on more than 70 bodies of persons who died when members of the security forces and criminals clashed during the three day operation in West Kingston.
Some of the bodies have been released for burial.
According to Mr. Witter, the incident highlights the critical need for a Public Morgue.
What all this points to is the urgent need for a state of the art pubic facility to store bodies like these so we dont have to depend on the private sector to provide an important service of this sort, he said.
Relatives getting help with burials
In the meantime, Mr. Witter says his office has made progress with its request for state assistance in the burial of some of the persons who died during the West Kingston operation.
While not able to say how many of the relatives have asked for help, Mr. Witter said the Ministry of Social Security has been approached to provide assistance.
We try to ensure that all who approach us for assistance get some assistance. The Ministry of Social Security, the Social Development Commission and the PATH Programme are also assisting.
