POLICE?have confirmed that they responded to a call at the Fort George Heights, St Michael home of Cheryl Bourne, 46, and her estranged husband Collin Reifer, 57, a few hours before Bourne’s body was discovered last Saturday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce told the WEEKEND?NATION?that the police had followed protocol in dealing with the matter, even though it was not referred to the Family Conflict Unit which was recently established to deal with incidents of domestic violence, following a spate of cases where a number of women were killed by their partners last year.
“The situation was considered to be comfortable by both parties,” he explained.
Police did go to the house. The police left the situation and then something happened after, but the police were satisfied and both parties reached an agreement.
Questioned further, he added: “In the whole scenario the response was consistent with the response which was expected from the police. There was nothing that suggested that we didn’t do what we ought to do. The facts that we now know, which were beyond the police control, they only came out after.”
While Boyce could not immediately say how many cases were referred to the unit, he said in most instances the first responders go in, make an assessment, then report the matter so that a determination could be made if it should be referred to the Family Conflict Unit.
