Man in custody for Ashanti Riley’s killing: I only drove the car

I ONLY DROVE!

This, police said, was the gist of two statements given to them by the 32-year-old man arrested for killing 18-year-old Ashanti Riley.

The man was held the day after she was reported missing and days before the teen’s body was found.

Police said the man helped them find the spot where Riley's body was found in a shallow stream at Upper La Canoa, Santa Cruz – five days after she went missing on November 29.

An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James on Wednesday revealed she died from sharp force injuries to the right chest and lower abdomen, and blunt force trauma to the back of the left chest.

Police said the man, who is one of three now in custody, said he was not involved in Riley’s death. He pointed fingers at other men.

CCTV footage along with video recordings from businesses and homes in the area showed Riley after she was picked up in a blue Nissan Almera from her Lloyd Street, Sunshine Avenue home. She was heading to San Juan.

Later, two other men are picked up and the teen is seen being taken in the opposite direction from her intended destination.

Police said clothing from two of the three men, including the driver, was seized when their homes were searched. The third man was arrested on Tuesday, and up to Wednesday police were yet to interview him or seize his clothing.

Homicide officers are expected to approach the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions later this week for advice on charges against the three men.

Contacted on Wednesday, defence attorney Fareed Ali, who is representing the driver, said he did not want to speak on what his client “may or may not have told the police.”

He said the situation has again raised his concern over the need for the Evidence Bill to be taken to Parliament and passed to protect the rights of accused.

“As it is now, the way suspects are treated is a privilege up to the discretion of the police and not a right. The Evidence Bill, once it becomes law, will make it mandatory for suspects to be treated humanely.”

He added that other aspects of the proposed legislation included the way police conduct identification parades, as the intended law will give suspects a choice of which of the five methods of identification they want.

On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said women should be allowed to have pepper spray as a means of protecting themselves. He said he will speak with the Attorney General on the issue.

Riley’s mother Candice  agreed with such a move, telling Newsday it would give victims a fighting chance.

But Ali is not easily convinced by the regulating of pepper spray. He said it can be used against the person who tried to protect themselves with it.

“What is the dosage? How much is enough to stop an attack? We cannot be so ad hoc to appease the families of victims. There needs to be a proper rationale for it.”

He added that  issuing guns is also not an answer, as militarising the citizenry will not address the issues of crime and criminality.