Coroner’s inquest to determine cause of death for Jimmy Fraser

by Linda Straker

• Fraser was found lifeless in his garden at Diamond, St Mark
• Several people interviewed and released
• Fraser was scheduled to be married later in the month

Police have ruled out homicide involvement in the death of Jimmy Fraser who was found lifeless in his garden at Diamond, St Mark on Saturday, 10 April 2020. He was found by a search party after he did not return home at the expected time.

Without sharing information, Police said that following an autopsy the cause of death is labelled as an incident. There will be a coroner’s inquest to bring closure to the family. “We have reached the point where we can safely conclude that it is an accidental death. The matter will then be forwarded for an inquest,” said Inspector Ryan Hall who is currently head of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Hall said as part of the standard police investigation for any suspected offence, several people were interviewed including a Vincentian national. All persons questioned have since been released.

An inquest is a formal investigation conducted by a coroner in order to determine how someone died. The magistrate for the St John/St Mark jurisdiction will be conducting that inquiry.

Inquests are held only in certain circumstances, such as where a death was sudden and the cause is unknown; where someone has died an unnatural or violent death, or where someone has died in a place where there is legal requirement to hold an inquest such as prison or police custody.

A Police report issued on Monday, 12 April said that a lifeless body was found on Saturday, 10 April 2021, at Diamond, St Mark. The body was identified by relatives as Jimmy Fraser, 42 years, Curriculum Officer of Morne Fendue, St Patrick.

Fraser was scheduled to be married later in the month.