They say that a tape bearing a man’s voice threatening to kill her had gone missing – and that inquest witnesses were never called to a Supreme Court hearing at which the case was thrown out.
Yesterday the mother of British school teacher Carole Ann Leach, who was brutally murdered in her Eleuthera home six years ago, said she was lodging a formal protest through the British High Commission.
Mrs. Evelyn Gamson said she and her family had been left stunned by the collapse of a case which they hoped would bring closure to their long ordeal.
“I have worked solidly for six years to help the police here, but I feel I have been let down by the Bahamian judicial system. The police have been brilliant, but I feel Carole has been denied justice.”
Mrs. Gamson said after many postponements the trial went ahead on November 8 and she was subpoenaed to attend as a witness.
Members of her family were in court when the jury was selected and sworn in.
“Immediately a legal argument meant that the jury had to leave the court and were told to reappear at 2:30pm. When they returned they were again asked to leave the court while two police officers were called to give a statement. The court was then adjourned until the next day.
“We were told to be there by 11am, but the police transport did not pick us up until 11:30 and we arrived to see the jury leaving and to be told they had been instructed to return a verdict of “not guilty”, even though they had heard no evidence.
“The police had presented the case to the Attorney General’s Office to have it assessed before trial, but no witnesses were called and vital evidence went missing.
“I was then told that the government commitment to myself was over and I was to fly out the following day. Is this Bahamian justice?”
Carole Leach, 36, a divorcee, had worked as a teacher at Green Castle School, Eleuthera, and in Rock Sound for seven years.
< She was described by her mother as a "lovely outgoing person who was full of of fun".
Ms. Leach was, according to Mrs. Gamson, “very outspoken, especially on [the subject of] drugs.” But her family does not think her murder was linked to that.
“She was well-loved and well-respected by members of the community. they even dedicated a library to her after her death. The people in Eleuthera who knew her also feel the system has let her down.”
Mrs. Gamson said two years after Ms. Leach’s death she lost a second of her three daughters. Her only surviving child, Mrs. Alex Mumford, was in court for the hearing.
The family’s biggest concern, she said was that no inquest witnesses were called and that the vital tape-recording had gone missing. The tape, they felt, held the key to the case.
“Supt. Glen Miller has been absolutely fantastic. He came over to Britain and talked to me for two solid days and took it from there, I have nothing but praise for him.”
“He too, is cut up about this. He was on the phone to me saying, ‘I am so sorry I have let you down’.”
Mrs. Gamson said she was in no position to say whether the defendant was guilty or not. “All I wanted was answers, but I got no answers,” she said.
Ms. Leach was found dead in her bed at her Queen’s Highway home in Rock Sound in August, 1997. There was a wound in her forehead.
At the time, police described her as “a community-minded person” who was loved by the entire community.
After her divorce Ms. Leach had decided to stay on in Eleuthera because she loved the Bahamas so much. She had adopted two Rock Sound children and made financial provision for them.
Mrs. Gamson said, “I am her mother and I have worked tirelessly to get justice for my daughter, but it was not to be.”
The Tribune was unable to reach the Attorney General’s Office for comment.
This article appeared in The Tribune on November 18, 2003
