On what would have been his 23rd birthday the family of murdered student Shaundae Jones are furious at the inaction of hostile and insensitive prosecutors. Shaundae Jones was shot to death in Dockyard on April 27, 2003 at the age of 20 but his murderer has never been brought to justice.

However, his still-grieving family felt they still could not get closure from his tragic murder because there was no progress in catching his killer.

?It?s all over for me,? Ms Jones said on Sunday. ?I feel let down. His birthday is that much harder. Every time it comes into my mind to hear the nurse say he?s gone sends chills through me.?

When her American cousin Sharyn Menzies came to support Ms Jones in April 2005, she was appalled at the hostile and insensitive behaviour of Director of Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Vinette Graham-Allen.

?While I was in Bermuda, Shaundae?s family requested a meeting with the Prosecutor?s Office,? Ms Menzies said. ?Keep in mind, this was right after Bulford had been released on the gun procession charge.

?First of all, I was appalled to learn that the Mrs. Graham-Allen never took the initiative to meet or greet Shaundae?s mother and family.

?Well, needless to say, that meeting was unbelievable to say the least. Even now when I think about it, I get so angry.? ?Mrs. Allen?s attitude towards us was hostile and insensitive,? Ms Menzies said. ?I asked Mrs. Allen a question. She was non-responsive to my question and replied, ?I am the Director and I will not abuse my position.??

She said she was amazed that Mrs. Graham-Allen assigned two ?rookies? to represent such a high-profile case as the Shaundae Jones shooting.

?We left that meeting feeling worst than when we entered,? she said. ?There is not doubt in my mind, that my first impression of this case was endorsed, that it is grossly mishandled.?

Ms Menzies spoke of recent reports of unrest within the DPP.

?I say the ?rampant egos? exist with Mrs. Graham-Allen,? she said. ?No wonder there is no ?succession planning? in the works. I am sure there is plenty of ?local talent? but until that office and its leadership presents a ?positive working environment? any good candidate will never ?wish to make prosecuting their career? in that office.?

Shaundae?s mother said Julian Hall would make a good DPP. ?I felt very discouraged after my meeting with the DPP,? she said. ?Shandae?s uncle was so upset he just left. The bottom line is that my son is still dead. He would be 23 (today) My hopes and dreams of seeing my family is dead.?

She was unable to just let her son?s murder go, as recommended to her by friends. ?As time goes on people seem less and less involved,? she said. ?Other cases since mine have taken priority.?

APromises by politicians and Police never came through, she said.

?Nobody?s been charged with Shaundae?s death, that?s not right,? she said. ?Somebody came up to him and shot him. He was an innocent victim and I?m left with nothing.?

Problems with the judicial system may not seem important until people?s lives became affected by it directly, she said. Bermuda needed a witness protection programme, she said. Shaundae was a witness in the murder trial of Tekle Zion Mallory who was stabbed in the stomach during a fatal fight at the Paget Ice Queen in July, 2001 and there was speculation Shaundae was killed for testifying. ?People are scared. But I am not afraid anymore. I?m angry,? she said. ?This is craziness.?

Kenith Clifton Bulford was arrested in Jamaica on February 2, 2005 and extradited here but on April 25, Bulford was freed after senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ruled he had no case to answer on firearms charges dating back to March and April 2003.

The officer originally in charge of the murder case, Det. Ch. Insp. Stuart Crockwell, remained on suspension yesterday, but Ms Jones said while some Police had continued to do their best procrastination could be a problem.