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Shooting death at police station
My wife died a hero—soldier
Published: 26 Jun 2009
Camille Daniel
Camille Daniel died a hero.
This was the sentiment expressed yesterday by Daniel’s husband, Lance Cpl Stanley Nottingham, and acting Police Commissioner James Philbert. Surrounded by his colleagues from the Defence Force at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday, Nottingham hailed his wife’s actions as courageous. “My wife was courageous to do what she did...She died trying to save her friend,” he said. “Those who killed her were cowards,” Nottingham said, as he awaited the results of the autopsy on his wife’s body. Asked if he believed justice would be done, Nottingham said, “One way or the other.”
She was a hero
At a news conference a few hours after the distraught husband spoke, Philbert, too, described Daniel as a hero. “I think that woman was a hero, who had done what she attempted to do,” he said. “We do not know what may have happened to her if she was taken elsewhere, and I think, she did what she thought was best. “Perhaps if officers were in the yard at the time, they may have been able to avoid the situation.” Daniel was on her way to pick up her husband on Wednesday when she made a detour at Factory Road in Diego Martin to drop off lunch for a female friend just before 2 pm. The two were sitting in Daniel’s gold Nissan Almera car when three men jumped in the back and ordered her to drive to Rich Plain.
Daniel instead drove into the compound of the nearby West End Police Station but was shot dead on the compound by the carjackers. The friend, who was in the front passenger seat at the time of the incident, was described by police as deeply traumatised. Investigators said the woman who was trembling while being questioned by police following the shooting, has since fled her Factory Road home and has to live with relatives elsewhere. Daniel’s family members, who awaited autopsy results at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday, bemoaned the depths to which society had plunged. They also begged that Daniel’s killing be the impetus for gunmen to stop wreaking havoc on the lives of innocent citizens.
Daniel’s elder sister, Elizabeth—a traffic supervisor with the Trinidad Broadcasting Company (TBC)—appealed to mothers to “wake up.” Daniel said she was particularly disturbed by what she claimed was the “disappointing” response of police officers at the West End Station. According to Daniel, if officers were more alert, her sister might have been still alive. “She went in the station tooting horn to alert everybody that something was wrong and nobody never really paid any attention,” she said. “Nobody realised what was happening outside the station and the police themselves confessed to that,” Daniel claimed. She said upon entering the police station’s compound, her sister’s car crashed into another car parked at the station before hitting a concrete culvert. “Then there was an explosion...that was the gunshot and the police said they thought it was an electrical transformer that had blown,” Daniel said. “When everything was done, that was when the police came out to look and that was when they realised a woman was dead in a car.” She said the police simply sprang into action too late.
Parents to blame
Sending a strong message to parents, Daniel called on them to “wake up.” She said oftentimes mothers especially, turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of their sons. “Parents are rearing criminals. When your child brings home something that does not belong to him you have to exercise your duty as a parent and make sure this child knows what he is doing is wrong and should be disciplined,” Elizabeth said. She said if children were corrected the very instant they went wrong there would not be an influx of youths involved in crime. “Crime is full-fledged. It has crossed all borders. Life is worth nothing. We need these youngsters to be aware that there is a God and He created life and no one is justified in taking that away,” Daniel said. Nottingham’s sister, Nicole, said gunmen fail to realise they are not invincible.
Nicole said she believed that even if Daniel had run out of the car, she would still have been killed. “Either way they would have killed her. She drove in the police station and she died doing the best she could,” Nicole said. She said Daniel’s son, 17, has not come to terms with his mother’s murder. Disturbed by Daniel’s killing, Rich Plain residents called on the army to set up camp in the community, saying they had lost faith in the Police Service. Residents said gang members who often engaged in shoot-outs have managed to elude the law. “Is only after something happen then we see police coming and looking for people. “That is not good enough because it show the police are retroactive instead of proactive,” one shopkeeper commented.
Eventhough she drove into
Eventhough she drove into the police compound , those miscreants still murdered her . My deepest condolences to Lance Corporal Stanley Nottingham , the family and friends of the dearly departed Camille Daniel ; may she rest in peace .
I would like to opine that when those murderers are caught , their destination should be the GALLOWS . The joint-forces must stop this carnage because it is destroying "Sweet T&T" .
The sad thing is... that I
The sad thing is...
that I am planning on coming home for two years. IF this is what I am faced with I might as well remain here in the UK where there are constant police patrols, CCTV cameras on every corner in every building, responsible policing and all this without guns.
London alone is more than 7 million people and our murder rate is less than 200 every year.
Parents, politicians, corrupt businessmen/women, the citizens, stupidty, poor government policies and ignorance and fear all contribute to the demise of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
When will it end? Where will a better life begin?
“Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity and stumble from defeat to defeat.”
Anais Nin quote
Please people of triniad
Please people of triniad stand up against this failing government, their ministers,commissioners who ever.We are being killed daily and no one seems to held accountable or appear to comprehend how severe the crime situation is.When the daily murders occur you see these commissioners and ministers making statements like she was a hero,and they feel safe,real safe what a shame.Citizens see the big disconnect with government but it appears that they are living in a bubble and is excluded from the present crime info so they could care less.Well she a dead hero and is not going home to her family when you and your officials are going home to yours.You feel safe but The ordinary citizens never feel safe and secure they are scared to death concerning the criminals and your statements after these grevious crimes occur.They have a crime plan but the murder numbers continue to increase with their police department always respond after the fact and armed to the teeth when the confrontation is over and a law abiding citizen is dead what a waste of tax payers money for all the hardware they carry its of no use to them and the criminals.start the protest people instead of wearing their free red they provide with the balize tell them it stands for the blood on their hands no thank you and kindly ask them to resign
This poor woman is running
This poor woman is running for her life, and you tell the whole world what street she lived on? What irresponsible reporting! When you find out her new address, don't forget to reveal the house number this time, I am quite sure this would be helpful to some very nice 'human beings' out there.
Why does this woman have to
Why does this woman have to hide 'somewhere else'?
If only the witness protection program was indeed a reliable safe haven to witnesses, she would not have to seek her own protection. So much for protecting and serving!
Camille is surely a HERO and
Camille is surely a HERO and one of the majority of the law abiding citizenry of this country. One of the many that seem to get lost in the every day talk (which seems like glorification) about the criminals destroying this country. "COWARDS". There is not even room under the white line in the road for them
God Bless her and will recieve her in his arms of eternal protection. Those "NOTHINGS" deliberately had no mercy when they realised what was happening. They have gone up a notch in the domain of crime and criminals,they have killed a "WOMAN". It is a lowlife kind if man who commits such a crime.
To shoot someone in the head at a close range is that you mean them to be dead and most of the time if they are lucky to survive they are left severely challenged.
Let us hope that the friend who she was protecting will be her hero and be a good witness she is already "Traumatised" I hope that she recovers as Camille will never do so. Witnesses in Trinidad often get amnesia, or leave the country and these cowards get free and arm themselves for more war against women and children.
My sincere condolence to her husband. 17year old son, and the rest of her family
We can't always blame the
We can't always blame the police alone for the mess we are in here in T&T when it comes to crime. Firstly, parents must share in the blame for not instilling proper values in their children from very young. Secondly, the society is a lawless society and we must share some of the blame. We break traffic laws, litter, jaywalk, sell on the streets, play loud music in our cars, embezzle, give and take bribes etc. Thirdly, the law makers and the judicial system seems not to be rising to the unique challenges of the day. The prison system is a revolving door. We must implement the 'three strikes and you're out' system. Also, Compulsory National Service must be introduced to remove idlers and criminals to a place where they can be taught and trained and given the guidance they need. Leaving them to roam freely is contributing to the problem.
Well said 'Bottom-line'
Well said 'Bottom-line'
For many years, I have been saying that mandatory National Service is a meaningful tool to stem the flow of underserved, undereducated, underinspired, underguided youths from falling prey to the quick-buck lifestyle of Gangsterism.
I use the term under, as opposed to ill, because these children (and irrespective of how atrocious or heinous their acts they are our children) are not responsible for the process of being raised, we are, they are subject to our action and more importantly inaction. So to cast total blame on them is tragic, much of it falls on our shoulders because we gave up on them! We, the total society, have failed these children and we are now reaping the rotten fruit that has grown untended!
The institutions of yesteryear have dimuinished importance in our lives,
1. schools,
2. mosques/churches/temples etc,
3. neighbors caring for neighbors,
4. auxillary groups Red Cross/ Cadet Corps/ Boy & Girl Scouts and the list can go on but we have failed to follow through on the promise we made to these children when we brought them into the world which is to do our damnest to mold them into model citizens the way our parents did. I empathize with those who work extraordinary hours to make ends meet but that's a reason NOT an excuse to abdigate your responsibility to raising your children!
My point here is that if the institutions were viable options, the kids would not be left undersupervised to that their curiosity would have no avenue to lead them to the negative lifestyles. We have all lost sight of what is important, yes having $$ to live a comfortable life is worth nothing if your children are not raised right to respect life, hard work and sacrifice. I recall a time when my father viewed his childrens' behaviour as a reflection of him and he'd be damned if we sullied his good name...the time is now for us to wake up and restore the pride in family names. The issue is not about the haves and the havenots, it's about the willing and the not-willing.
Lastly, because I've tangented enough but the penal system needs a MAJOR overhaul. The current paradigm of warehousing convicts is the most archaic and ineffective practice the world over. If the premise of incarceration is to pay a debt to society, what good do we gain as a society for ~2000 20-50 yr old men and women to rot away in a prison cell for short, medium or long sentences...put their youth, ablebodiness and more importantly minds to good use!
1. Help improve their literacy
2. Introduce them to the concept of work
3. Pay them the minimum wage
4. tax their earning to cover the cost of their incarceration
5. if there is a surplus allocate it to their victim so that they can start making restitution
6. if there still is any surplus provide it to them as commisary!
The aim here is transition these convicts from miscreants and social outcasts into the type of citizens that are necessary to keep from becoming a failed state! The strength of any union is the strength of the weakest component. If we allow young men and women to enter jail/ prison without a plan to 'rehabilitate' them all we are doing, in essence, is giving them a multi-year scholarship to the Unversity of crime! Underused minds will agglomerate to create a worse outcome, a syndicate.
The time is now for us to stop wasting taxpayers' money funding the incarceration of individuals, that money will be better spent on education, healthcare, needed infrastructure and the list goes on. I am done writing but not done trying to effect change, and no politician can do that only you can as an individual. The Holy Quoran teaches that mountains can move before a man's attitude can, but it is possible one step at a time. Inshallah we shall rise out these ashes like a Phoenix!
Inspired...Selah!
What about
What about
The political will to fight crime. The Drug Trade is estimated to be nearly equal to the formal economy. That kind of money could bribe a lot of people. It could even buy a political party or two.
All that you said is good but only if there is the political will to fight the Drugs and Guns.
RIP Camille, I knew her as a
RIP Camille, I knew her as a brave girl from a young person,I was not surprised by her heroic decision in attempting to elude her attackers.My condolences to her family.
"Daniel was on her way to pick up her husband on Wednesday when she made a detour at Factory Road in Diego Martin to drop off lunch for a female friend just before 2 pm." Sad that she lost her life probably hoping to save her friend's life.
Now we are expecting the "friend" to assist the justice process in putting the perpetrators behind bars.
But I just wonder if the "friend" ever will.
How Ironic The irony of it
How Ironic
The irony of it all is that Ms Daniel made a split decision to act. She probably thought that by pulling into the police compound that she had a better chance of saving her friend and herself from certain rape and death. The problem with this kind of thinking, that one can take refuge in the hands of the law in most instance here in T&T can be a fatal one. The police in this case was oblivious to all the ruction outside. They thought that a transformer had blew. The police in their customary stupor and paralysis thought that the last thing that could have taken place on their watch was a crime being committed.
As for Mr Philbert, he suggested that "if cops were in the yard instead of inside the police station, the out come may have been different". Here is a hint Mr Philbert, get the police out of the police station and put them on the beat outside, that way a lot more crimes can be averted. I don't have to tell you Mr Philbert that part of policing is having a sustainable police presence. It's called prevented measure or a deterrent.
I must also say that sometimes I wonder if the citizenry of T&T understand that we living in a time of run away crime? That some of us underestimate the criminal element that is out to pounce on anyone that has their guard down. People need to understand that they need to take every precaution necessary. To leave your doors unlock even while having a conversation inside of the car can be perilous to our health. Please people do not make yourself an easy prey for the criminals. They are brazen enough as it is.
You said it enuff, "If cops
You said it enuff, "If cops were in the yard..." isn't this some remark. Doesn't Philbert knows about Police Patrol? Are the people in authority this retarded?
I am from Philadelphia and
I am from Philadelphia and grew up in Sangre Grande .My dream is always to return to my country when i retire in the USA.I AM SCARED.I literally cry for my country and feel the pain of the families of these horrific murders.I am not going to put blame on no one person but can only say that it really takes a village to raise a child.
Losing An Intelligent
Losing An Intelligent Woman
I wish to express my condolences to the family of Mrs Daniel. She is a woman who made an intelligent choice to drive to the Police Station for this is what we are all advised to do in times of trouble. Thanks to the lack of intelligence by the Minister of National Security and the legions of useless agencies he has created and funded, she died as a result of her intelligent choice.
She is indeed a true heroine, a good friend, and it is a great loss to the entire country. I hope that that those in authority have the wisdom, courage and political will to rectify the crime situation in the same manner, speed and effeciency that they brought the country up to speed for the Summit of the Americas. Charity begins at home.
Time to admit it; Trinidad
Time to admit it; Trinidad is a seriously infected, disgusting, horrifying place!!!!
And you know when it’s going to get better? When the murder rate reaches 500 one year then goes down to 450 the next. Oh yes you hear the PM talking about how they have crime in control!!
Well at least the people have carnival to look forward to. Nothing better that wining and lewd behaviour to make you feel better.
Certainly the fabric of society went some time ago.
Camille Daniel is definitely
Camille Daniel is definitely a heroine. She had the quick thinking presence of mind to not let the hijackers take her to a secondary place. This is the first step to survival that safety instructors advise.
If Camille had gone to the place where her hijackers wanted her to go not only her we would be grieving for but also her friend. And I guarantee that these two women would have been raped and killed. Because if it was the car they wanted then it can be easily taken away and abandon both women. There is a sick noxious phenomenon happening in T&T.
I find for Martin Joseph to say that the criminals are not letting up is one of the most feable remark yet. This man don't even try to sound tough. Is he leaving criminal activity at the discretion of the criminals? Maybe I'm reading this wrong.
"Parents to blame Sending a
"Parents to blame
Sending a strong message to parents, Daniel called on them to “wake up.” She said oftentimes mothers especially, turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of their sons. “Parents are rearing criminals. When your child brings home something that does not belong to him you have to exercise your duty as a parent and make sure this child knows what he is doing is wrong and should be disciplined,” Elizabeth said. She said if children were corrected the very instant they went wrong there would not be an influx of youths involved in crime."
NO FURTHER COMMENTS NEEDED.
It does not matter
It does not matter
It does not matter how well you bring up your child if he is surrounded by drugs and guns he will either join or be a casualty of them. How can there be so many guns on the streets. Where are they coming from? Who giving or selling them. Guns are not grown on trees. Parenting is not an abstract activity. A parent would not be expected to bring up a child properly in a war zone. But this is exactly what we have.
I totally disagree....Based
I totally disagree....Based on your words you are not a very good parent. I agree to some degree that you cannot control everything your child does, but you can rear your child appropriately regardless of the circumstances or the location in which you reside. That has little to do with how your child will turn out.
Parents are rearing killers in T&T...yes I said it...KILLERS...
Innocent people are dying because of poor parenting skills and a lack of morals in society...It's pathetic and frustrating!!
I truly agree with Arimaman,
I truly agree with Arimaman, you hit it right on the head, not only "poor parenting skills" but what are teaching our kids in schools.
I believe the education needs to be revamped, when our kids graduates from school they should be totally aware of the fact they need to be....considerate of others, respectful of others opinion, be more tolerant of others and the lists goes on and on,
then we would see a new generation of citizens that would change the way of life in T&T, and that old "don't care" mentality
would disappear or die.
Today's parents teaches their kids "tit for tat" how about teaching them to treat others the same way they would want to be treated!!
Saying
Saying
Ever heard the saying that you can make children but you cannot make their minds. How do you explain children coming up in the same family 8 stay out of crime but 1 get involved? How about the reverse happening? It can’t be that the parent did not bring up their children properly. There are limits to parenting, and today there are even more indirect influences than before.
The point I am bringing is that parenting can go so far but is not the only factor determining what a child becomes. Good parenting can be negated by a toxic environment. The statistics will support this.