Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Nuffield Burnett has cautioned against labeling recent police-involved shootings as “extrajudicial killings,” saying the term is prejudicial without the findings of a proper investigation.
Speaking at a United Progressive Party town hall, Burnett said he preferred to describe such incidents as “suspicious deaths” or “killings” until the facts are established.
“I would prefer to say at this point we have some suspicious deaths or killings,” Burnett said. “We don’t know if they’re extrajudicial, because the term extrajudicial killing means the willful killing by officials of persons without due process”.
He explained that classifying incidents prematurely could undermine the integrity of investigations and risk unfairly casting blame on officers before evidence is presented. Burnett noted that in the cases cited, young and healthy men were shot and killed under what he described as “unnatural and suspicious circumstances.”
“These deaths are supposed to be investigated properly and not swept under any carpet,” he said.
Burnett underscored that only through thorough police work and coroner’s inquests can authorities determine whether the deaths were lawful, unlawful, or extrajudicial. He stressed that precision in language matters in maintaining both fairness and accountability.
His remarks came as community members pressed for answers in high-profile cases, including the deaths of Manny James and Khalil Simon. Families and rights advocates have questioned the pace of investigations and transparency, fueling calls for oversight of law enforcement.
