by Linda Straker
- Robinson was found lifeless on a beach in the south of the island
- Police hope to charge detainee later today or over weekend for death of Robinson
- Detainee is an acquaintance of Robinson
Approximately 3 months after his body was found on a beach in the south of the island, Police have announced that a 29-year-old male has been detained and will be charged with the murder of Jonty Josiah Robinson.
“Someone is currently in police custody whom we hope to charge later today or over the weekend for the death of Jonty. He is a 29-year-old male who resides in the south of the island. At this point we do not wish to release the name of the individual as this investigation is still ongoing even as we speak,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Vannie Curwen, the Officer in Charge of Crimes.
Police refrained from sharing details about the individual in custody, however, Superintendent of Police Esau Pierre who recently became head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) said that the detainee is an acquaintance of Robinson.
Robinson was found lifeless on a beach in the south of the island. His death was eventually declared a homicide following a second autopsy conducted by a regional forensic pathologist. Many are of the opinion that Robinson was killed because of his sexual orientation. His death brought international attention to Grenada when Tyler Perry and Yvette Noel Schure jointly offered US$100,000 for any information that could lead to an arrest in the matter.
Police said that solving the case was not as a result of any tips received because of the offer. “I do not know if anyone came forward with regards to the Tyler Perry offer,” said Curwen.
On Monday, 4 September 2023, the Caribbean Equality Project led a historic Queer Caribbean Liberation Collective contingent which participated in the 2023 West Indian Day Parade, in Brooklyn, New York. Together with partners, activists, and community members, over 150 marchers amplified Caribbean LGBTQ+ representation while celebrating Caribbean culture, to demand action, accountability, and Justice for Jonty Jordan Josiah Robinson.
Following the protest, the Caribbean Equality Project issued a news statement calling on Governor-General Her Excellency Dame Cécile La Grenade, Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister and Minister for National Security in Grenada, and the Royal Grenada Police Force to demonstrate that all Grenadian lives are valued and protected by allocating all the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate the murder of Jonty Robinson.
It had to be someone close
Now congratulations are in indeed the first call but we all know the incentives related to this case.
Let’s make sure that guilty get a fair trial .