Breaking Story or Cock and Bull

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Rawlston Pompey

Wednesday, 15 December 2010 06:55

By RAWLSTON POMPEY

Every once in a while, there is an extraordinary and thought-provoking “…BREAKING NEWS STORY” which for all intents and purposes fits the “…COCK AND BULL STORY” cliché.

The …COCK, in this instant, is neither that of the domesticated feathered stock, nor is the …BULL of the bovine species or an integral part of the national food chain. Hence, this cliché, is invariably used when “…an incredible tale” had been told or incidents reported upon that appeared “…stranger than fiction.” Therefore, such story may be suggestive of “…incredulity” or seemed to have defied logic, thus, prompting members of civil society to express “…DISMAY and …DISBELIEF.”

PLAUSIBLE PROBABLE BELIEVABLE

This is even so, when a story, account, explanation, or allegation may have appeared “…PLAUSIBLE; …PROBABLE and …BELIEVABLE.” Nonetheless, rational-thinking people are not easily hoodwinked. Most however, appear always to have gut feelings that there is the possibility of “…connivance or …contrivance; …concoction and/or …deception.” Biblical teaching warns “…A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step” [Proverbs 14: 15]. Law enforcement personnel, mindful of this, are keenly observant.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

As mind-boggling as some “…reports; …complaints; …accusations or …allegations” may be, law enforcement, charged with the responsibility for the “…PREVENTION and …DETECTION OF CRIME,” must be guided by the law, principles and precepts in the professional …Code of Ethics. Therefore, investigators have been constantly urged to “…KEEP AN OPEN MIND.” Thus, investigators should not be “…EMOTIVELY SWAYED; or be…guided by pre-conceived ideas. Additionally, they may not calculatedly complicate the issue by openly exhibiting …personal prejudices and/or biases. They may also not accord consideration to “…EXTRANEOUS MATTERS during investigation into specific reports that may have the effect of assisting in “…DEFEATING THE ENDS OF JUSTICE.”

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

In the investigative process, investigators may not be influenced in the execution of duty by extending “…FAVOUR; or displaying …MALICE or …ILL-WILL,” neither to the accused or accusers. This usually allows for negating or dispelling suggestions of ….PARTIALITY or …FAVOURITISM, while at the same time averting any compromise of the …INTEGRITY of the investigative process. Experience has taught that even before the…FACTS were, known such attitude had often led to “…PREMATURE CONCLUSIONS”.



OBTAINING CREDIBLE FACTS

This must also be supported by “…extensive; …systematic; …meticulous; …relentless …in depth investigations” in unearthing or ascertaining or obtaining “…CREDIBLE and IRREFUTABLE FACTS.” Hence, this ought to be done regardless of the parties allegedly involved or …SUSPECTED or what may be the attendant …CONSEQUENCES. These have always been the “…GUIDING PRINCIPLES” of law enforcement.

ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE

It is to be understood that ‘BREAKING’ may either be     “…ACTUAL or …CONSTRUCTIVE.” Firstly, in the former, the law requires that some part of the structure is “ …PHYSICALLY DISPLACED,” example “…removal of louvers, burglar bars, entire windows, doors, or roofing materials or drilling entry holes in elevated walls or floors. Conversely, the latter requires no “…PHYSICAL DISPLACEMENT.” Thus, entry into a building may be effected by the use of a “…KEY” or the SKILL and/or RESOURCEFULNESS of a “…PICK- LOCK CRIMINAL” or “…SIMPLY” opening an unlocked window or door “…HELD IN POSITION BY ITS WEIGHT.”

A SECRET CRIME

BREAKING, was once defined as “…A secret crime, since the perpetrator did not wish the victim to know when he was intruding to commit a criminal act.” It was usually committed when no one was present at home or at other premises. That has dramatically changed over the years as victims may testify that whether they were “ …IN or …OUT; …ASLEEP or …AWAKE,” the …DARING, usually …WELL-ARMED AND EQUIPPED PERPETRATORS, seemed delighted to meet unsuspecting occupants at home to …GUIDE THEM or …FORCING the handing over of money, jewellery and other valuables, if such was the “ …MOTIVE.” If the motive was “…SEXUAL GRATIFICATION” (Rape), then hapless victims may be terrorized and left agonizingly brutalized and/or traumatized.

BURGLARY DEFINED

In an attempt to develop further explanations on …BREAKING, it is important to provide an understanding of the offence through a working definition. Simply put, “…Breaking is where a properly secured building had been entered into by …AN INTRUDER or …AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON with …INTENT TO COMMIT or have …ACTUALLY COMMITTED A CRIME.” Under existing law, Breaking may be committed at any time of the day. Conversely, Burglary may be committed only on dwelling houses between 9pm and 5am. The acronym signifies just what ought to be proved in a prosecution for this crime- B-E-N-D-I. For example there has to be a “…BREAKING; …ENTERING; …NIGHT; …DWELLING HOUSE OF ANOTHER; perpetrator must have …INTENT to commit a FELONIOUS ACT. Government House, like the PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, is not a...DWELLING HOUSE.

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CRITICAL QUESTIONS

The critical questions that may reasonably be asked are; “…Was there a BREAKING- ACTUAL OR …CONSTRUCTIVE?” …If so, was the …POINT OF ENTRY identified; …Who had secured the building; …When was it secured; …Who was the last person to leave the premises and …POINT OF EXIT; …Who committed the crime; …When was it committed; …Why was it committed; …How was it committed?




MORE PROBING QUESTIONS

The most important questions however, are: “…Was there a …SERIOUS LAPSE or …BREACH OF SECURITY? …Was it possible for intruders to penetrate the heightened state of security of the military?” Though the absence of a breaking may negate the need for Security Chiefs to feel uneasy over any lapse in security, they may yet be wary of incidents that have the potential to impact negatively on the reputation and effectiveness of their respective agencies.


COCK AND BULL ‘BREAKING’ STORY

Many West Indians have been known to have used CLICHÉS, whenever they have been marveled by a story that may have bordered half truths. Thus, the “…COCK AND BULL STORY” cliché’ had been mainly used to reject or describe stories that appeared “…PREGNANT WITH DECEPTION.” Added to this, such cliché had been used when accounts of events or occurrences appeared calculatedly “…misleading; …farfetched and/or …improbable.”

BURGLARY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Hence, when recent media reports revealed that there was a “…BURGLARY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE,” given the growing “…PUBLIC GRUMBLINGS” over a controversial “…TRIBUNAL REPORT,” those familiar with …SENSITIVE SECURITY MATTERS would appreciate the urgency and need for increased security measures to be employed at those premises. Thus, as much as it may have been a “…NEWS BREAKING STORY,” conscientious and law-abiding citizens, including professionally trained security personnel quickly focus on the familiar …CLICHÉ “…COCK AND BULL ‘BREAKING’ STORY.” Thus, the news breaking story of a …BREAKING at Government House had left many anxious and infuriated citizens speculating and pondering over its authenticity.

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MEDIA-FRENZY REPORTING

For these reasons, last week’s apparent “…media-frenzy and dramatic reporting” on the story suggesting a “…SERIOUS SECURITY BREACH AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE,” that may have been enough to give the nation’s “…SECURITY CHIEFS” an instant headache. One thing that appeared certain, was that it had heightened public anxiety; …provoked responses of anger, mortification, alarm and speculations. At the same time, it had renewed citizen’s interest and agitation, particularly as it affects a most sensitive issue to which the populace, like the three “…SUSPENDED ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS, …SIR GERALD WATT QC; …NATHANIEL ‘Paddy’ JAMES and …LIONEL ‘Max’ HURST,” have particular interest.

UNUSUAL SUSPICIOUS IMPROBABLE

The “...UNCONFIRMED” news story speak to a highly “…UNUSUAL; …SUSPICIOUS and …IMPROBABLE BREAKING” at …GOVERNMENT HOUSE” on the night of December 7, 2010. In dramatizing mode, seemingly overzealous reporters, may have conjured up the provocative and /or sensationalized headline on one of the nation’s electronic media stating with possibly, some degree of “…journalistic deception” that “…TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS HEIST FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE; …TRIBUNAL REPORT TAMPERED WITH; …SIX SOLDIERS WERE ON DUTY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.”

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES?

This is an incident that may not be taken or treated lightly by the nation’s Security Chiefs. Thus, true or false, such headline has serious implications for the integrity and reputation of the military, as it was suggesting that only military personnel were present on the premises at the time of the incident. “…What if the reported breaking was not confirmed; …What if it was covertly staged to shift blame on the innocent?” These possibilities, therefore, may be closely examined.

MINDBOGGLING

Thus, such story quickly scattered across the land in like manner to the ash that covered the nation of Antigua and Barbuda at the first eruption of the …MONTSERRAT VOLCANO. While citizens were forced to wear dusk masks to protect their lungs and health in general from the hazardous sulphuric volcanic ash, the …NEWS STORY of the unusual …GOVERNMENT HOUSE BREAKING, reportedly the first after its occupation by the colonial rulers in nineteenth century.  This had boggled the minds of the intelligent, equally as much as the …DULL and …IGNORANT and that of the most gullible and the simpleton of society.


KEPT ON TENTERHOOKS

The situation was compounded by growing concerns and anticipation by the embattled Commissioners, being kept on …TENTERHOOKS by the seemingly indomitable …GOVERNOR GENERAL, DAME LOUISE LAKE-TACK to know their …FATE, if any. It was obvious that whether or not the TRIBUNAL REPORT had been received at her office …DAME LOUISE was not prepared to ease the pains to the Commissioners aching hearts or to submit her Royal Prerogative to the sustained public ridicule and the anxieties and uneasiness of a restlessly inquisitive populace.

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