Suspect Arrested in Jamie Cockayne's Murder...But This is Far From Over

CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday at 10 PM ET is dedicated to Jamie

here it is:

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/

Monday's Show
A young man's trip to an island paradise ends with his brutal murder. Now his parents say the investigation is being totally botched. A family's fight for justice, Monday 10 ET.

I just heard that the get-away car was never impounded. The alleged murderer feld the bloody scene in a car driven by someone else. There were witnesses to that. I heard that the Cockayne family went to the VI to be briefed about the arrest, but had to leave because they were beaing threatened - by people driving the get-away car! If this is true, and the car was never impounded to be searched for blood/DNA evidence, then the case has been severely botched - as expected.

My heart and deepest sympathies go out to the Cockayne family whose son, Jamie, was killed on St. John.

I was born and raised in St. John and consider it to the most beautiful and safest place to be. Violent crime on St. John is extremely low. In fact, we have had a recent span, I believe, of five years when we did not have one murder. If there is a murder, it’s one per year (of course, even one murder is one too much). It is a place where people feel safe enough to hitch hike, and honk their horns to say “hi” to friends, opposed to expressing road rage.

Thus, when I heard about the murder, I was completely appalled. I sympathize with the family’s frustration with the police department’s investigation. If I was in their shoes, I would most likely be doing the same thing --- contacting the media to put pressure on the investigation.

In doing so, however, a dark picture is being painted of the island opposed to the investigation. Many headlines read, “Murder in Paradise.” Statements are being made to warn tourists about coming to the islands, etc. As a native St. Johnian, I am highly disturbed that is picture is being painted of an island that has one of the lowest, almost absent murder rate.

In the midst of the family’s anger and frustration, I realize it would be difficult to not speak negatively about the safety of the island as this makes the story more news worthy.

For this reason, I feel it necessary to let people know that the St. John is very beautiful and is extremely safe.

I encourage the family to continue their fight and hope they see justice for their son , Jamie, very soon.

Although, I wasn’t born in the Virgin Islands, my parents moved to St. John when I was a mere 6 weeks old.

The beautiful and tranquil island of St. John has been my home since 1982.

From the years of 1982 – 1999, I soundly remember no more than 4 homicides occurring on the island of St. John.

I am not trying to portray a peachy clean portrait of the island, simply just stating the facts.

Yes, my condolences go out to the Cockayne family, and such a gruesome murder shouldn’t have occurred on the island of St. John.

No human being was put on Earth to suffer such excruciating acts from senseless individuals.

I hope the person(s) responsible for this is caught and reprimanded.

However, I must say that I don’t agree with all the negative comments that have been submitted about the island.

It seems like once something happens to an American in the Caribbean they feel as though everything should stop at that point, and all attention should be redirect to them.

This is not fair. Everyone should be cautious of there surroundings no matter where they are. No where is safe, not even in America...

It has been reported that this young man was intoxicated and acting out of order. Not that this was a reason to take a life, but sometimes we are left to suffer from the consequences of our acts.

Please, stop painting a negative picture of the island, and let’s focus on what really happened here.

A SENSELESS ACT OF VINDICTIVENESS

- St. John Native (Living on mainland)

Although, I wasn’t born in the Virgin Islands, my parents moved to St. John when I was a mere 6 weeks old.

The beautiful and tranquil island of St. John has been my home since 1982.

From the years of 1982 – 1999, I soundly remember no more than 4 homicides occurring on the island of St. John.

I am not trying to portray a peachy clean portrait of the island, simply just stating the facts.

Yes, my condolences go out to the Cockayne family, and such a gruesome murder shouldn’t have occurred on the island of St. John.

No human being was put on Earth to suffer such excruciating acts from senseless individuals.

I hope the person(s) responsible for this is caught and reprimanded.

However, I must say that I don’t agree with all the negative comments that have been submitted about the island.

It seems like once something happens to an American in the Caribbean they feel as though everything should stop at that point, and all attention should be redirect to them.

This is not fair. Everyone should be cautious of there surroundings no matter where they are. No where is safe, not even in America...

It has been reported that this young man was intoxicated and acting out of order. Not that this was a reason to take a life, but sometimes we are left to suffer from the consequences of our acts.

Please, stop painting a negative picture of the island, and let’s focus on what really happened here.

A SENSELESS ACT OF VINDICTIVENESS

- St. John Native (Living on mainland)

Although, I wasn’t born in the Virgin Islands, my parents moved to St. John when I was a mere 6 weeks old.

The beautiful and tranquil island of St. John has been my home since 1982.

From the years of 1982 – 1999, I soundly remember no more than 4 homicides occurring on the island of St. John.

I am not trying to portray a peachy clean portrait of the island, simply just stating the facts.

Yes, my condolences go out to the Cockayne family, and such a gruesome murder shouldn’t have occurred on the island of St. John.

No human being was put on Earth to suffer such excruciating acts from senseless individuals.

I hope the person(s) responsible for this is caught and reprimanded.

However, I must say that I don’t agree with all the negative comments that have been submitted about the island.

It seems like once something happens to an American in the Caribbean they feel as though everything should stop at that point, and all attention should be redirect to them.

This is not fair. Everyone should be cautious of there surroundings no matter where they are. No where is safe, not even in America...

It has been reported that this young man was intoxicated and acting out of order. Not that this was a reason to take a life, but sometimes we are left to suffer from the consequences of our acts.

Please, stop painting a negative picture of the island, and let’s focus on what really happened here.

A SENSELESS ACT OF VINDICTIVENESS

- St. John Native (Living on mainland)

Thank you for posting, even if you felt the need to do it TWICE.

We take umbrage at this comment :

"It seems like once something happens to an American in the Caribbean they feel as though everything should stop at that point, and all attention should be redirect to them."

FACT: St. John's is a US Territory so we have every right as Americans to complain!

FACT: Reports state (and the family as well) that Jamie was killed by not one, but multiple persons are involved in his death - so it isn't just one guy.

FACT: Jamie Cockayne's family tried for 2 months, 2 months to play by the rules of your home island. What did it get them? Nothing but frustrated.

FACT: St. John government by all accounts, knew within days who suspects were, yet they did NOTHING until CNN showed up with camera crews!

FACT: The Cockayne family has been threatened and intimidated several times since Jamie was butchered and left to die on a street.

FACT: Due to threats, by our count, the Cockaynes have had to evacuate your "beautiful" island TWICE.

FACT: The hospitable nature of St John natives also caused CNN camera crews to leave the island, so there are obviously a lot of people who hate on this island, right?

FACT: posted as comments in other posts here and throughout the web, Virgin Island natives have told of drug problems, crime, government corruption

FACT: Even a human being might have a beautiful face, yet a rotton soul. Ditto for islands - to you it might be beautiful, and utlimately home, but to many others, it is something entirely different.

So while we appreciate your natural defensiveness, we stand by our assertion that this island has a seedy and corrupt underbelly and people should be warned. Like it or not the Constitution of the United States gives us the right to express our opinions.

You are correct, you do have to have your eyes open everywhere - look at the City of Philadelphia - our city is basically Murder USA. We warn people about their safety in Philadelphia too - the thing that is different is government doesn't try to cover up the problem - they just haven't a clue on how to make it stop - neither do we for that matter...the world is a cruel place.

If St. John's Governor and other government officials had treated the Cockayne family differently, or this case, none of us would be having this conversation, now would we?

If you are a native, you should write your governor post haste and tell him what his government's beahvior has wrought. They are to blame, not us for having an opinion shared by millions at this point.

Thanks again for writing.

On June 19th, your island was anything but safe, as 21 year old James Patrick Cockayne was stabbed to death by a couple of local youths out for some kicks. This was a stabbing that could have been prevented by your wonderful island police. They could have turned their lights and sirens on when they heard that a "white boy" was being chased; and they could have turned their lights and sirens on when they heard that a "white boy" was being beaten. When they found the "white boy" and his car, they could have chosen to first approach the "white boy" and offer assistance. They chose to leave this young man wounded and dying on the ground. They could have cared for him before they went to care for the car. They could have cared about the young man dying before their eyes. Even after their delayed reaction to the initial crime, what kind of cops take 5 min to complete a fifteen second trip from the station to the kill site; with no lights and no siren. Your island remains unsafe as long as these thugs are allowed to operate with impunity under the noses of the local police. If not for the spotlight focused on this disfunctional community by national mainland media outlets, this crime would continue to go unsolved. The island authorities have repeatedly failed to exercise even a moderate level of competence, or a slight interest. They destroyed fresh evidence on the night of the murder. It took them six weeks to do anything positive to solve this case, and they only took action after the mainland media outlets began to expose the truth.
If this crime had occured in my town, these guys would have been off the street within a week. How often do you have two eye witnesses to a capital crime? How often do you have a car known as the getaway car crusing around a month after the crime; carrying all the evidence that would have been collected by a police department that was even moderately interested; or slightly competent. You are welcome to hold on to your visions of the idillic and tranquil island.

On June 19th, your island was anything but safe, as 21 year old James Patrick Cockayne was stabbed to death by a couple of local youths out for some kicks. This was a stabbing that could have been prevented by your wonderful island police. They could have turned their lights and sirens on when they heard that a "white boy" was being chased; and they could have turned their lights and sirens on when they heard that a "white boy" was being beaten. When they found the "white boy" and his car, they could have chosen to first approach the "white boy" and offer assistance. They chose to leave this young man wounded and dying on the ground. They could have cared for him before they went to care for the car. They could have cared about the young man dying before their eyes. Even after their delayed reaction to the initial crime, what kind of cops take 5 min to complete a fifteen second trip from the station to the kill site; with no lights and no siren. Your island remains unsafe as long as these thugs are allowed to operate with impunity under the noses of the local police. If not for the spotlight focused on this disfunctional community by national mainland media outlets, this crime would continue to go unsolved. The island authorities have repeatedly failed to exercise even a moderate level of competence, or a slight interest. They destroyed fresh evidence on the night of the murder. It took them six weeks to do anything positive to solve this case, and they only took action after the mainland media outlets began to expose the truth.
If this crime had occured in my town, these guys would have been off the street within a week. How often do you have two eye witnesses to a capital crime? How often do you have a car known as the getaway car crusing around a month after the crime; carrying all the evidence that would have been collected by a police department that was even moderately interested; or slightly competent. You are welcome to hold on to your visions of the idillic and tranquil island.

Jamie's mother, Jean, wrote a letter to the St. John Tradewinds Newspaper (and includes the CNN reporter incident) as follows:

Cockayne Family Happy with Arrest, Seek Protection PDF Print E-mail
Written by Author as indicated
Monday, 06 August 2007

Dear Editor,

We are very happy an arrest has finally been made in the murder of our son.

We believe the Commissioner, James McCall, has done his very best in a very difficult situation. Yesterday we met with Poole-Davis, Foy, Mr. Jenkins, Ms. Gumbs and the Commissioner.

We thought we were going to receive some long awaited information regarding the murder of our son Jamie. You can imagine my surprise when, what we walked into felt like a trip to the principles office for misbehaving.

We were taken to task for going to the stateside media. We were told that we have ruined any chance of getting a fair jury because the trial will be in St Thomas and because of the media attention, potential jurors have been tainted. We listened patiently for a good ten minutes.

Please understand we did not want to go to the stateside media. We only did that more than four weeks after Jamie’s murder because we were notified of a witness being threatened. It was a last resort for us. We didn’t go to the media until we exhausted ourselves trying to get some, any information from law enforcement. We didn’t go to the media when we found out who the killers were.

Everyone on this island has been talking about this kid “Sixpack” since the day after the murder. Now we can only hope that this punk is put away for life so no one else loses a loved one because he is not convicted. An arrest is the first step and we are still holding our breath.

The point has been missed. We believe St. John to be a beautiful island and we believe law and order should be restored.

So, for now, we don’t ask for Justice for Jamie, we ask for Justice for St. John.

Jean Gilligan Cockayne
P.S. Just learned that my husband and Sean were in an altercation in Cruz Bay.

Here is the story:
Bill and Sean were doing some errands in town when the car that was used as a getaway car was seen following them. Needless to say, they were freaked.

After doing some errands, they drove by the car ferry parking lot and spotted the car again. They left to tell the police and the commissioner. On the way they ran into the two CNN reporters and told them about the car.

The reporters asked to be taken to the car and Sean and Bill took them. When they got to the car the reporters asked if they could film it and the license plate. While filming, a supposed owner came and aid to stop. They stopped and left. The woman (owner?) got in the getaway car and followed Bill, Sean and the CNN guys.

When they got to Slimman’s parking lot the crazy lady blocked them in and would not let them leave.Sean had already called McCall about the car and the FBI. They also called the police, I think.

The woman called her brother, big guy 6’5”, 300 pounds easy. The lady’s brother arrived before the police! He threatened the reporters with physical harm and the woman for some reason began yelling, “that kid was a drug addict and crackhead.”

I CAN ONLY ASSUME SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT JAMIE.

The police finally arrived and promptly let the crazy woman leave with the getaway car?

The CNN reporters have now fled St. John. No kidding, they were really freaked. One of them spent time in Iraq and he was still freaked!

We have no protection from these people and have asked for the commissioner to find us a safe place to stay. He has said he will give us police protection. We will see.

This will be the second time we have been chased off St. John in fear of our lives. What the heck are they waiting for? Why don’t they get the car before someone gets it off island?

What is going on, this is crazy.
Jeanie

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/08/07/kaye.island.murder.mystery.cnn

A Local’s (rather “My”) Perception of the Murder Case:

What makes this situation so touchy to locals vs. non-locals are the following points of interest:

1. There seems to be discriminatory haste for justice when a Caucasian/state-sider is killed versus an islander. Regardless of the color or nationality of victim, the seeking of justice should be equally important. I say this to say: there have been blacks killed where the case remains unsolved and in the eyes of the public, seems to be dropped from the police’s radar; but the minute a white person is killed, “all hell breaks lose” and a seemingly quiet island is now a scary place to be.

2. Also, no one seems to mention the fact that the victim was intoxicated and belligerent. Though saying this, I need to be extremely clear that: being drunk is no reason to be killed. Thus the fact remains, and it may shed some light on the course of events. Reports are giving the perception that a young innocent white boy is on the island with his mom, who’s looking to buy a house, and just waiting for his paperwork to be cleared before he gets this great sailing job on the neighboring islands; while out drinking one night he gets in an altercation with some locals, is chased and ultimately stabbed to death. Now add in the “un-stated others” that he was by himself and intoxicated at early morning hours, and it starts to paint a different picture that maybe more than the naïve occurred. Though unfortunately Jamie isn’t here to speak for himself, I believe there’s a little more that might have provoked events.

3. As in any place, (especially as a visitor) you should know areas of where you shouldn’t venture into at various times by yourself. It is constitutionally your right to go walking into Blood and Crips territory at 2 o’clock in the morning, but what would common sense tell you to do? Does that seem safe, or are you ignorantly asking for trouble?

4. Another thought that adds fuel to my fire on the non-locals one-sided outlook of this case is a situation that they may not be privy to… Last year a black woman accused some white guys of rape on St. John. The time it took for FBI to take some interest to the island/case (FBI, because it was viewed as a hate crime) was totally ridiculous! And for justice to be served was even more nail-biting and secretive. Where was the media then? Where was CNN a couple of weeks ago when a veteran and National Guard hero was senselessly killed while filling an atm machine. Why hasn’t CNN come to do a tidbit on that? I think the locals are not upset that CNN came but that they came for a white murder when there are other unsolved murders. I believe there’s a rush by the media to quickly sensationalize paradise as being less than such when something occurs (i.e. Natalee Holloway in Aruba).

In closing I just want to acknowledge and agree with the plight of Jamie’s family in seeking justice. I have observed that in the beginning they hadn’t set out to shed a bad light on the island. In fact, Jamie’s mother was plainly saying that her son had been murdered on St. John (which was a wonderful island) and that they were urging people to come forward with any information. After the slow moving feet of the police and not being informed of progress in the investigation, they changed their stance to bringing in the media in an effort to kinda jumpstart things. I’m thinking they saw that as being a last resort for attention/help which would inadvertently lead to justice. After all, we’re talking about they’re son being murdered! I hope that you get justice, because whoever committed this crime is nothing less than a ruthless heartless killer.

As for the image of St. John, I leave you to draw your own conclusion…look at the murder/crime statistics and then look at the pictures in the magazines and read the articles about what vacationing on the island is like and the decision will be a ‘no-brainer’. St. John will remain “America’s Paradise”!!!

Dear Local,

I understand where you are coming from, however I do have some items in which I object to in your statement above.

I have known both Jamie and his family for awhile now. Jamie was not just a "visitor", as you put it. This wasn't his first time on the island. Jamie's family has been vacationing to the USVI, mainly St. John, for years now. His parents met on the island, married on the island, and raised Jamie within its shores whenever they had the chance to get out of New Hope, PA and previously Basking Ridge, NJ. Thus, I would give Jamie a little more credit to know where the bad areas are.

Further, was Jamie drinking, yes. Was he belligerent? We don't know. However, Jean has been the first one to say that Jamie wasn't sitting there stone cold sober. Yet it is also important to note the time of the murder. Jamie wasn't strolling the streets alone between the hours of 2-3 in the morning. He died at 12:28, which last time I checked, during the summer, is still a popular time for people to be out and roaming.

Is it horrible that other murders have gone unsolved? Absolutely, it's atrocious. The Cockayne's have noted that other murdrers have gone on since Jamie's death on the island that also haven't been solved. The most important thing is that Jamie's murderers be brought to justice, and if in the process this exposes the truth of a what clearly is a corrupt government and agency with problems that have been snowballing for years on end.... wouldn't you as a local want that for not only yourself, but your neighbors, the tourists who are the pulse and backbone of your economy, and your family?

While I completely agree with you in the need for justice and the deletion of corruption within this agency, I must correct you on two points (like you have so graciously done to me)...

1. Because Jamie has been to the island vacationing for years now, hardly makes him someone with the knowledge of the bad areas. To tell you the truth, I've lived on the island for 25 years, and on a small island where you either know or have seen everyone before...I have never seen Jamie in my life (nor the arrested suspect).

2. Secondly, NO other murders have occured on St. John since Jamie's untimely passing. (And probably won't occur for the next couple of years.)

If your plight is to get the justice that you undoubtedly deserve and in the meantime possibly shed some light on the unaccaptable slow-moving-secretive-tactics of the investigators, then I whole-heartedly agree. But if your aim is to totally discredit the island for its people and what it has to offer (because a close friend of yours became the island's first murder in years) then that's where my disagreement lies.

Dear St. John Native (Living on Mainland):
Firstly, you are incorrect in the use of the word "native." You were not born on St. John, and by the dates you've listed, you left at seventeen. Perhaps you would be considered one of the lucky ones. Since you haven't been living on St. John since 1999, I cordially invite you to come and visit the island, eight years after your departure. Let's how many times a vagrant will spit in your face after they demand ten dollars and you refuse. Let's see how much you will like being called racist names; the drug transactions happening before your eyes, all hours of the day and night; let's see how you like being shoved around by the local bums who demand that you but them breakfast or lunch or dinner; when you go to a beach and you are relieved of your money and personal belongings by the lovely armed robbers. Let’s see how you feel seeing the vagrants dropping their pants anywhere and defecating or urinating in public. Your facts are old and misconstrued, and are actually your memories of what the island used to somewhat be. How can you not agree with the negative comments about the islands, when a young man, outnumbered and defenseless is beaten and stabbed to death? Put yourself in Jaime Cockayne's shoes that night; feel your scull being cracked open; blood pouring from the wound; feel the sharp steel entering your flesh; stunned; feel the last breaths drawing from your lungs. Yes, everyone should be cautious of his or her surroundings, but I would greatly appreciate if you would please give me an updated list of the "safe" places that I can go here. What most offends me is that since you believe that this young man was intoxicated and acting "out of order" he deserved this. If this was the case, the island’s population would be cut in half. I implore you to come down and pick a bar of your choice and have a few drinks; keep watching your back, drunk or sober; keep watching over your shoulder; make sure that when you leave, no one follows you. Keep your mouth shut, even when they call you a white faggit, a punk, or an array of other nice obscenities. Never have pride and never push your chest out in a display of such pride. Never look at anyone too long and try to focus only into what you are drinking. Pray, that you will not be robbed and pray even harder that the these guys won't think it's funny to beat the hell out of you and leave you bleeding on the ground, squirming and pleading. You are ignorant of the facts. You know, you see things on these islands and sometimes, you just keep your mouth shut.
“A bar is in fully swing, just before midnight last summer. A big taxi van pulls up. Two young white guys, late teens, early twenties, obviously tourists, get out from the back of the taxi. Another of their friends gets our from the front passenger side, blood pouring from a deep gash in his forehead. Someone runs over and asks him what happened; he should go to the hospital. The young guy, a bit intoxicated, explains that he was sitting in front and the taxi man had a religious radio station on, so he changed the station. The taxi man told him that he was an off duty police officer and not to touch his radio. The young guy turns the station again and Mr. Taxi Man-Off Duty Police Officer cracks his head open with the butt of his gun. He drops the three young men off and waits. As the young man talks about what happened, the taxi man-off-duty police officer runs over and shouts that the victim was still making trouble and yelled for a security officer to arrest him. How funny it was to see this little busted up, bleeding white guy running around and flitting away from the oversized, big bird looking security officer. Finally, the white guy throws himself on the middle of the dance floor and curls into a ball, as the security officer raises his fist for the strike and just barely realized that there were over a dozen witnesses to his would be attack.” All I could remember was dialing 911 and screaming for them to call off their dogs from this white kid whose head was bashed in by an off duty police officer and who was about to be fisted down by a security guard, when this guy had done nothing illegalt one sound was uttered from the other end of the 911 line, even if the female did answer the phone when I called. But according to you, he deserved this because he was intoxicated and turned the station on a taxi driver-off duty police officer’s radio. And you know what, to this damn day, I wonder what ever happened to this guy; I wonder which parents were suffering; if he ever got medical treatment. Well, I kept my mouth shut and I’m still here. So please Mr. Native, come down and I’ll show you around.

Dear St. John Native (Living on Mainland):
Firstly, you are incorrect in the use of the word "native." You were not born on St. John, and by the dates you've listed, you left at seventeen. Perhaps you would be considered one of the lucky ones. Since you haven't been living on St. John since 1999, I cordially invite you to come and visit the island, eight years after your departure. Let's how many times a vagrant will spit in your face after they demand ten dollars and you refuse. Let's see how much you will like being called racist names; the drug transactions happening before your eyes, all hours of the day and night; let's see how you like being shoved around by the local bums who demand that you but them breakfast or lunch or dinner; when you go to a beach and you are relieved of your money and personal belongings by the lovely armed robbers. Let’s see how you feel seeing the vagrants dropping their pants anywhere and defecating or urinating in public. Your facts are old and misconstrued, and are actually your memories of what the island used to somewhat be. How can you not agree with the negative comments about the islands, when a young man, outnumbered and defenseless is beaten and stabbed to death? Put yourself in Jaime Cockayne's shoes that night; feel your scull being cracked open; blood pouring from the wound; feel the sharp steel entering your flesh; stunned; feel the last breaths drawing from your lungs. Yes, everyone should be cautious of his or her surroundings, but I would greatly appreciate if you would please give me an updated list of the "safe" places that I can go here. What most offends me is that since you believe that this young man was intoxicated and acting "out of order" he deserved this. If this was the case, the island’s population would be cut in half. I implore you to come down and pick a bar of your choice and have a few drinks; keep watching your back, drunk or sober; keep watching over your shoulder; make sure that when you leave, no one follows you. Keep your mouth shut, even when they call you a white faggit, a punk, or an array of other nice obscenities. Never have pride and never push your chest out in a display of such pride. Never look at anyone too long and try to focus only into what you are drinking. Pray, that you will not be robbed and pray even harder that the these guys won't think it's funny to beat the hell out of you and leave you bleeding on the ground, squirming and pleading. You are ignorant of the facts. You know, you see things on these islands and sometimes, you just keep your mouth shut.
“A bar is in fully swing, just before midnight last summer. A big taxi van pulls up. Two young white guys, late teens, early twenties, obviously tourists, get out from the back of the taxi. Another of their friends gets our from the front passenger side, blood pouring from a deep gash in his forehead. Someone runs over and asks him what happened; he should go to the hospital. The young guy, a bit intoxicated, explains that he was sitting in front and the taxi man had a religious radio station on, so he changed the station. The taxi man told him that he was an off duty police officer and not to touch his radio. The young guy turns the station again and Mr. Taxi Man-Off Duty Police Officer cracks his head open with the butt of his gun. He drops the three young men off and waits. As the young man talks about what happened, the taxi man-off-duty police officer runs over and shouts that the victim was still making trouble and yelled for a security officer to arrest him. How funny it was to see this little busted up, bleeding white guy running around and flitting away from the oversized, big bird looking security officer. Finally, the white guy throws himself on the middle of the dance floor and curls into a ball, as the security officer raises his fist for the strike and just barely realized that there were over a dozen witnesses to his would be attack.” All I could remember was dialing 911 and screaming for them to call off their dogs from this white kid whose head was bashed in by an off duty police officer and who was about to be fisted down by a security guard, when this guy had done nothing illegalt one sound was uttered from the other end of the 911 line, even if the female did answer the phone when I called. But according to you, he deserved this because he was intoxicated and turned the station on a taxi driver-off duty police officer’s radio. And you know what, to this damn day, I wonder what ever happened to this guy; I wonder which parents were suffering; if he ever got medical treatment. Well, I kept my mouth shut and I’m still here. So please Mr. Native, come down and I’ll show you around.

I was just in St. John for a month and I will tell you what the story is on the island. According to locals of the island, that kid came to the island and set up shop as a drug dealer. The conflict in the bar was caused by him trying to gain territory on the island. He is known to taunt police officers and be drunk and disorderly. That particular night he was wasted and started his rants about how he was going to take over the whole island. He finally pissed off the wrong people.

I am not trying to say that he deserved it or that its ok since he is a drug dealer, but it is funny how noone is mentioning what the cause of the fight was or what was going on. The front yard is pretty popular and always crowded to all hours. I doubt that they couldnt find a single person that knew what the argument was about. Local press just doesnt want to paint that picture.

You are now claiming that Jamie was a drug dealer and killed as a result of a turf war? If that is true, please explain why a drug dealer would fight to expand his territory on St John a couple of weeks before his scheduled move to take a job on Virgin Gorda. You probably are having a tough time with that one.

You are now claiming that Jamie was a drug dealer and killed as a result of a turf war? If that is true, please explain why a drug dealer would fight to expand his territory on St John a couple of weeks before his scheduled move to take a job on Virgin Gorda. You probably are having a tough time with that one.

As an American who lives in the Caribbean I can tell you that the "island mentality" is not so warm and friendly and crime is rampant. Unfortunately most people switch to vacation mode and let down their defenses.

The local people resent ANYONE, not just Americans, who move to their island. Instead of working to make the islands a nice and friendly place for tourists (WHICH IS THEIR MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME) they prey on them.

After years of living in the Caribbean I can tell you that I appreciate the US 100 times more than I used to. Our system may not be perfect but compared to the legal system and police abilities in the Caribbean it is paradise.

In Response:

"If your plight is to get the justice that you undoubtedly deserve and in the meantime possibly shed some light on the unaccaptable slow-moving-secretive-tactics of the investigators, then I whole-heartedly agree. But if your aim is to totally discredit the island for its people and what it has to offer (because a close friend of yours became the island's first murder in years) then that's where my disagreement lies."

I'm sure you misinterpreted my post, as I have never, nor has the Cockayne family, put blame on the locals or the physicality and opportunity of the island itself. In fact, Jamie came down to the USVI FOR opportunity. It is the incompetence of the government and its surrounding agencies where the blame lies. Reading multiple articles on the situation would have educated yourself on these topics before making such statements.

Re: After years of living in the Caribbean I can tell you that I appreciate the US 100 times more than I used to. Our system may not be perfect but compared to the legal system and police abilities in the Caribbean it is paradise.

Hey buddy...If you don't like it...LEAVE...

Re: After years of living in the Caribbean I can tell you that I appreciate the US 100 times more than I used to. Our system may not be perfect but compared to the legal system and police abilities in the Caribbean it is paradise.

Hey buddy...If you don't like it...LEAVE...

Re: After years of living in the Caribbean I can tell you that I appreciate the US 100 times more than I used to. Our system may not be perfect but compared to the legal system and police abilities in the Caribbean it is paradise.

Hey buddy...If you don't like it...LEAVE...

St. John...Is just a boat ride away from Virgin Gorda...What difference does it makes if he was leaving for a job in the BVI....This young man knew how to navigate the seas and could travel between the whole British Virgin Islands and United States Virgin Islands within a day (Yes they are that close to each other)...

A drug dealer's main objective is to expand their territory.

Listen you addled VI lovers, your island has got some problems, so get over yourselves and help yourselves. That is number one. Number 2, to whomever is accusing that dead boy of being a drug dealer, I say perhaps the anonymouse poster doth protest too much and YOU are a drug dealer? Oh and have you seen this:
More details on St. John slaying emerge in court hearing
By JOSEPH TSIDULKO
Tuesday, August 7th 2007

The man charged with stabbing to death 21-year-old Jamie Cockayne in St. John's Cruz Bay appeared Monday before a V.I. Superior Court judge - a preliminary hearing in which arguments and accompanying court documents for the first time shed light on the nature of the police investigation that has come under intense scrutiny from the national media.

An affidavit supporting the arrest warrant naming Kamal Thomas, the only suspect charged by late Monday in connection with the case, details witness accounts of events before and after Cockayne was stabbed to death in the early morning hours of June 19 after leaving a bar next door to St. John's police station.

One witness told police he saw the severely wounded Cockayne emerge from behind a wall, blood gushing onto his shorts as he shouted out challenges to his fleeing attackers....Thomas, an 18-year-old known around St. John as "Six Pack," was arrested Friday on first-degree murder, first-degree assault and weapons charges. Another warrant signed Sunday and served Monday charges Thomas with intimidating a witness in the case.

The witness told police "Six Pack" made a threat against him on July 31 in Cruz Bay.

Seeking to keep Thomas behind bars until trial, prosecutors came to Judge Leon Kendall's courtroom on Monday with a written motion arguing for pretrial detention.....After being advised of his rights, Thomas told the judge he came to St. Thomas from Tortola about one year ago. He said he has a criminal record in the British Virgin Islands, but he did not elaborate on those crimes. ....Thomas and his friend, Anselmo Boston, who is now considered a "person of interest" in the case, according to police.

And oh by the way, if y'all in the US VI are so pure, why did a letter from wwww.judicialwatch.org get sent to the VI Commission on Judicial Disabiliites? A letter dated April 2007 about a judge in St. John's? The letter was addressed I am told to 4 people on this committee. Y'all who live in St John - file a freedom of information act request, or better yet, call Judicial Watch at 888-JW-ETHIC. Bet they'll send you a copy.

I am also real ired of the guest posters posting an reposting the same idiotic commentsin succession. Do yourselves a favor and wait a few darn minutes to see if your post was accepted. And watch your racist hate speech. have no tolerance of that either.

And unless you have concrete proof of something, don't malign the deceased, Jamie Cockayne. He is only guily of being young and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And that island of ST John US VI should be boycotted and subsidies halted until this crime is solved and all the other underlying issues dealt with.

And if you are a runaway bride out there, might I suggest Hawaii or Bermuda?