Dear Sir,

I write after the conviction of murder for the ex-partner of Chavelle Dillon-Burgess.

I am appreciative to the comments of Darrin Simons, Commissioner of Police, as my commitment to this matter was unwavering, not least with the fear that Chavelle would just become a “missing-person statistic”.

The exceptional work of Bermuda Police Service officers, including Detective Superintendent Nick Pedro, Detective Inspector Jason Smith and Sergeant Brian Mellor, who scoured every inch of the rock with police dog Falco, drove a relentless search for Chavelle that has never stopped.

I am also grateful to The Royal Gazette, which placed a daily front-page banner on its publication to not let Chavelle out of the public’s mind. The daily did not have to, as news moves on, but it did.

I hope that one day information comes to light as to where she is, to allow her mother and family the closure they deserve. I remain adamant that more than one person knows what happened to her and perhaps they can now consider doing the right thing.

I also hope that after this conviction a domestic homicide review takes place, a process that is commonplace across partner agencies to look at all lessons that can be learnt to assist how victims of domestic violence are protected, not least as this is one of the primary ways that homicides can be prevented.

Black lives do matter. Chavelle mattered. Her family mattered.

May she rest in peace.

STEVE CORBISHLEY

Former Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service

Manchester, England