Authorities investigating the suspicious death of 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul in Dominica have made another major legal move, charging a third serving police officer as the probe into the teen’s killing continues.
Twenty-three-year-old Police Constable Patrick Bethelmie Jr., a resident of Bense, has been taken into custody and faces two counts: perverting the course of justice and illegal possession of ammunition. According to reports from the investigation, Bethelmie is the romantic partner of Jolie-Ana Naomi James, who is already facing identical charges linked to Paul’s death.
Paul was first reported missing on July 24, after she failed to contact family or friends. Weeks later, search teams supported by the Barbados-based Regional Security System located her decomposed remains in a remote area of northern Dominica, launching a wide-ranging criminal investigation that has already ensnared multiple current and former law enforcement officers.
To date, two officers, Jean-Luc Langlais and Joshua Hamlet, stand accused of Paul’s murder. Three other people, including Police Constable Rennick Stevens and 21-year-old Nyoka James, have also been charged with perverting the course of justice, joining Bethelmie and Jolie-Ana James in facing allegations of obstructing the investigation.
Jolie-Ana James made her first appearance before the Magistrate’s Court this week on Monday. She entered a plea of not guilty to the ammunition possession charge after choosing to have the case handled summarily, and that portion of her case has been adjourned until November 2. Because the charge of perverting the course of justice is an indictable offense, she was not required to enter a plea at this stage, and that matter has been scheduled for a further hearing on November 10.
Prosecutors allege the charges against Jolie-Ana James stem from claims that she provided law enforcement with a false statement about her location at the time of Paul’s disappearance and death. Her defense attorney, Wayne Norde, has confirmed he plans to file a bail application and has formally requested access to key evidence including witness statements, interview transcripts, and records from the investigating officers. A bail hearing is scheduled to take place on September 4, and all other co-defendants in the case are expected to appear back in court on October 2.