Police ID wrong stabbing victim in press release

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police has admitted that they named the wrong man as a victim in a stabbing incident in a recent press release.{{more}}

The release, dated August 19, stated that on August 16, a 14-year-old student of Indian Bay was arrested and charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Joseph DaSilva, a 48-year-old businessman of Mesopotamia, to wit, stabbing him in his back with a knife at Indian Bay.

Joseph DaSilva, a businessman of Mesopotamia, who told SEARCHLIGHT that he is 49 years old, said he was not stabbed and he believes someone is trying to make mischief.

“Everything points to me. I am the only Joseph DaSilva who is a businessman in Mesopotamia, as far as I am aware,” DaSilva said.

“The police has the right information. How could you make a mistake with Indian Bay and Mesopotamia and businessman and labourer?” he questioned.

The Mesopotamia man said he has spoken to the real victim, Joseph DaSilva, a labourer, who lives at Indian Bay.

The businessman said since the police released the report on August 19, he has been receiving telephone calls from all around the world, causing him much distress.

When contacted on Wednesday, head of the Police Public Relations Department, ASP Jonathan Nichols confirmed that an error had been made in the address of the victim.

“The person is not Joseph DaSilva, businessman of Mesopotamia, but another Joseph DaSilva, of the Calliaqua district. We apologize and regret any inconvenience caused,” Nichols said.(KW)