PARENTS OF SLAIN SEVEN-YEAR-OLD APPEAL FOR JUSTICE AS POLICE SUSPEND THREE OFFICERS

Late Caro’s parents father Jeffery Fraser and her Mother Josephine Fagan .

By Vicky Baunke in Goroka, EHP

THE parents of seven-year-old Caro Jeffery Fraser have publicly appealed for justice for their daughter for the first time, as Eastern Highlands Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent John Kale announced the administrative suspension of three police officers pending ongoing investigations into the child’s death.

The case has attracted widespread public attention and calls for justice after Caro, a Preparatory student at Kama Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School, was found dead inside a residence opposite the school at Red Corner, on Saturday, 18th July.

Speaking to this newsroom yesterday, Caro’s father, Jeffery Fraser, and mother, Josephine Fagan, said they remain devastated by the loss of their youngest daughter and have called for an independent police investigation.

Caro was the youngest of the couple’s four daughters. Her three older sisters are currently in Grades Six, Five and Three.

According to her parents, Caro disappeared after finishing school at around 12 noon on Friday, 17 July, and never returned home. They said she regularly visited the residence where her body was later found to pick laulau fruit.

Mr. Fraser said family members searched for Caro throughout Friday afternoon and evening and went to the residence on three separate occasions asking if anyone had seen her.

He said the occupants, including police personnel residing at the property, told the family they did not know Caro’s whereabouts.

Caro’s body was discovered the following day in a downstairs room of the residence after police were notified.

Mr. Fraser said the family has lost confidence in the way the investigation has been handled since Caro’s body was found.

While acknowledging that police have made progress, he said the family remains concerned about what they described as delays in the investigation and has requested that investigators from outside Eastern Highlands Province take over the case to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

“Our only wish is to see justice served for our daughter through a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation,” Mr. Fraser said.

He said the tragedy has left many parents fearful of sending their children to school and has shaken public confidence.

“Parents are scared to send their children to school, and children themselves are afraid because they no longer feel safe,” he said.

Mr. Fraser said the family’s concerns were heightened because the alleged offence that occurred at a residence occupied by police personnel, whom the community looks to for protection and safety.

Mrs. Fagan said the family continues to endure unimaginable grief and wants assurance that everyone with information relevant to the investigation is thoroughly questioned.

Recalling the moment she identified her daughter’s body, Mrs. Fagan said she initially refused to believe the child brought to Goroka Provincial Hospital was Caro.

“I searched for my daughter after she never returned home from school on Friday. On Saturday afternoon, after hearing that the body of a young girl in a Kama SDA school uniform had been brought to the hospital, I went there hoping it wasn’t her. When I arrived, I realised it was my baby. I held her lifeless body in my hands, hoping there was still life in her, but she was gone,” she said.

The family has submitted a six-point petition to Chief Superintendent Kale requesting that investigators from outside the province take over the inquiry.

Among the concerns raised in the petition are the preservation of evidence, the handling of the crime scene, the conduct of police officers linked to the investigation, and a request for the current case officer to be replaced.

Responding to the family’s concerns during a media briefing yesterday, Chief Superintendent Kale confirmed receiving the petition and said police are treating the investigation as a priority.

He said he is personally monitoring the case and has assigned senior Criminal Investigation Division investigators to oversee the inquiry.

Chief Superintendent Kale said bringing investigators from outside the province at this stage could delay the investigation and assured the family that the case would be handled professionally under his close supervision.

He also announced that three police personnel who were residing at the premises where Caro’s body was found have been administratively suspended, effective today, pending the outcome of investigations.

Chief Superintendent Kale confirmed that one suspect remains in police custody and assured the family that the suspect would not be released until investigations are completed.

He said all occupants of the residence have now been identified after initially going into hiding for fear of being attacked by members of the public. Police have since located them and questioning is continuing.

Chief Superintendent Kale said if investigations establish that any police officer residing at the premises was involved in the child’s death, they would be dealt with according to the law.

He added that he would not hesitate to take disciplinary action against any police officer found to have breached police standards or procedures.

The Provincial Police Commander said investigators are continuing to gather evidence and expressed confidence that the investigation would be completed by Friday, 31 July.

“Results of the investigation is expected by the end of the week on Friday where we expect to have those involved formally arrested,” Chief Superintendent Kale said.

He reiterated that police are committed to conducting a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation to ensure justice is served.

Police investigations into Caro Jeffery Fraser’s death are continuing.