Reid: Neely said he felt branded a criminal by the legal system even when charges didn’t stick

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

CARLOS Reid says his last conversation with alleged gang leader Duran Neely revealed a man who felt repeatedly branded a criminal by the legal system, even when charges against him did not stick.

Neely, known as “Monster,” was killed Monday night in a suspected gang hit, sparking fears of retaliation.

Mr Reid, a consultant in the Ministry of National Security, said Neely had expressed frustration over how arrests without charges left a lasting stain on his reputation.

“An example,” Mr Reid said, “is when a person is arrested by police for suspected murder. Although police may release the individual once no credible information is found, the public may still view that person as guilty since nothing is done officially to clear their name.

“He was saying that a lot of times the police made him who he is because they lock him up over and over, and people feel like he did what the police locked him up for.”

Mr Reid warned that Neely’s death could spark retaliation and stressed the need for preventative measures to steer young people away from crime early.

Comments

Sickened says...

When the gang leaders all showed up at the Cable Beach police station along with a bunch of religious leaders, at the request of our government leaders and law enforcement, was Duran Neely one of those participants?

Posted 27 August 2025, 11:18 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**"Let me see if I had gotten this straight?"** --- He's a consultant to the Ministry of National Security....that's headed by someone else that *"managed to walk away"** after encountering the now deceased? --- There's no making this up. --- Meself, shall return later to discuss Zenith Broadcasting. -- Yes?

Posted 27 August 2025, 12:22 p.m. Suggest removal

DWW says...

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... If this is you then stop walking and talking like a duck if you don't want to be branded a duck by those around you. You are judged by the people you associate with. Don't be dumb

Posted 27 August 2025, 1:34 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Is this what the PLP Govt is paying this man consultant fees to be saying???

Asking for a friend ........ 🤔🤔

Posted 27 August 2025, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

What Mr Reid said "*could*" be true. The unfortunate thing is, if this gentleman was indeed the "leader" of the gang, whether or not he actually did this crime or that crime, he would be a high valued target for a rival gang. That's just the price of affiliation. At times even persons trying to break free pay the price

Posted 27 August 2025, 1:49 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Here's the real question: given recent history, we know that the possibility exists for one or more senior police officers to allow illegal activity, and at times ease the path for illegal activity to transpire. A senior police officer on video has also implicated a "high ranking politician" willing to do the same for a share of the profits. Do we have police officers and high ranking politicians aiding or cloaking gang operations?

Posted 27 August 2025, 4:08 p.m. Suggest removal

ibonamy says...

Ask the victims for an impact statement. These guys never change.

Posted 27 August 2025, 8:36 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrade Mr Reid, a consultant in the Ministry of National Security, - "a" being the operative word, since premiership seems **to care not,** his consultancy remains in uninterrupted play. - How did I score on pointing that out? -- Yes?

Posted 27 August 2025, 8:58 p.m. Suggest removal

bogart says...

“An example,” Mr Reid said, “is when a person is arrested by police for suspected murder. Although police may release the individual once no credible information is found, the public may still view that person as guilty since nothing is done officially to clear their name.

On dis lil small ----- 7 X 21 mile island ----- there are some very known lawyers in seems thousands of lawyers ----- with huge experiences for decades and decades and decades and successes ---------- who continuously overwhelm and outsmart, out maneuver, out strategize the best limited understaffed, underpaid staff of the authorities to deal with Bahamian public law apprehension and enforcement, charging and successful prosecutions of cases.

Dead bodies with bullets and wounds treated at PMH obviously have perpetuator(s) who caused it.

Posted 28 August 2025, 9:06 a.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment