Commissioner Garde has revealed troubling developments in two of the island’s most controversial and long-standing cases: the 2018 murder of Kimberly De Leon and the 2013 death of Shakadan Daniel.

Garde confirmed that crucial pieces of physical evidence in both cases are missing.

He explained that investigators had recently made “a very good breakthrough” in the Kimberly De Leon case. De Leon, a mother of two and wife of a police officer, was fatally shot at her Morne Fortune residence on October 29, 2018. Despite years of public scrutiny, the case has remained unsolved.

However, the breakthrough has been clouded by a disturbing discovery.

“We followed through with the exhibit room and also the Special Services Unit, and, as we speak today, we are not in a position to have secured this exhibit,” Garde confirmed.

He continued: “The breakthrough has led us to have more interest in the exhibit. We have tried to locate it, and we are not in a position to locate this exhibit as we speak.”

Garde also addressed the case of Shakadan Daniel, the 22-year-old Micoud resident who was found hanged in a cell at the Micoud Police Station under suspicious circumstances in October 2013.

“We have actually conducted a search to ascertain the position of the exhibits in that particular matter. The exhibit is a noose... I must be honest with the people of Saint Lucia. The exhibit itself has been removed from its sealed position and is no longer available for assessment by the RSLPF. The noose is missing.”

Garde acknowledged that the disappearance of key pieces of evidence confirms that there are other interested parties involved in these matters.

“It now taints the matter and makes closure more difficult. However, it is also an indicator of other interests or interested parties in this matter.”

The Commissioner indicated that his office is now to investigate both cases further, stating, “We will aggressively pursue the perpetrators.”