2 Years On, DPP Seeks Exhumation to Pursue Justice for Juliette’s Death

This morning, Thursday 24th April, the body of Steve Jacquelin Juliette was exhumed at the Poudre d’Or cemetery. The task of conducting the counter-autopsy has been entrusted to the esteemed French expert, Dr Pierre Perich, who is set to provide crucial testimony on 30 April 2025, as part of the judicial inquiry established before the Pamplemousses court.

This step aims to shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of this resident of Cité Ste-Claire in Goodlands.

Dr Pierre Perich, a forensic pathologist, hospital practitioner, associate researcher, and legal medicine advisor, has been called upon to ensure that the truth regarding the cause of death is meticulously determined.

Me Nataraj Muneesamy, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who advocated for the exhumation during the judicial proceedings, emphasised the necessity of a counter-autopsy to ascertain the precise cause of death.

To recall, Steve Jacquelin Juliette, aged 36, tragically passed away on 5 January 2023, mere hours after being apprehended by the anti-drug brigade.

An autopsy conducted at that time by the head of the forensic department, Dr Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, concluded that the cause of death was natural.

However, the family of Steve Juliette vehemently contended that he fell victim to police brutality.

The exhumation of Steve Jacquelin Juliette’s body is a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for justice.

The involvement of Dr Pierre Perich, who will later testify in the judicial inquiry, is underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Me Nataraj Muneesamy’s call for this exhumation reflects a determined effort to uncover the truth behind the death of this Goodlands resident.

The tragic narrative took a dramatic turn just before the legislative elections in November 2024, when two audio recordings attributed to “Missier Moustass” reignited the investigation.

These recordings suggested a potential cover-up at the highest levels to obscure the circumstances surrounding Jacquelin Juliette’s death.

In these tapes, four individuals are implicated, including a voice believed to belong to former police commissioner Anil Kumar Dip, who was heard conversing with Dr Gungadin, alongside another discussion with SP Jagai, hinting at a conspiracy to suppress the truth.

Following the release of these recordings, the DPP announced the initiation of a judicial inquiry.

This morning, Thursday 24th April, Dr Sudesh Kumar Gungadin was also present at the Poudre d’Or cemetery, alongside Me Rama Valayden, the attorney representing the Juliette family, as they collectively seek justice for Steve Jacquelin Juliette.

Source: Defi Media