Cops give unsworn statements rejecting witness’ claims

WESTERN BUREAU:

Three police officers charged in the 2014 beating death of Mario Deane gave unsworn statements from the dock on Thursday in the Westmoreland Circuit Court despite their legal team opting not to present a formal defence.

Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant are charged with manslaughter and misconduct in public office. Stewart also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice. The officers addressed High Court Justice Courtney Daye, each maintaining their innocence.

Stewart, who is also charged with perverting the course of justice, recalled the events of August 3, 2014, when Deane was in custody at the Barnett Street Police Station in St James. She claimed that Deane became uncooperative as they tried to process his bail for possession of a ganja spliff.

“I inquired of Mr Deane about the direction to his house as this is a requirement by the court’s office for the direction to a prisoner’s house to be placed at the back of the bail bond. When I inquired for directions to his house, his comment was, ‘Mi nuh like police. Mi nuh deal with police, and mi nuh have nothing a tell dem’,” said Stewart.

“On seeing his behaviour and that we were unable to continue his processing, I asked District Constable Grant and District Constable Clevon to take him back to the cells for him to calm down so we could continue the processing of his bail,” continued Stewart. “I would never have done anything to harm him or any other prisoner, and I just did my duties honestly and fairly.”

Stewart also rubbished the testimony of the inmate witness, who was also in custody at Barnett Street at the time of the incident, denying his claim that she verbally abused Deane prior to the beating.

“He gave evidence here that I escorted Mr Deane, along with District Constable Grant and District Constable Clevon, to cell number four [where the beating took place], that I told Mr Deane that he had no manners, and that ‘a dead him fi dead.’ That is a lie, My Lord,” said Stewart.

In his statement, Grant said officers moved Deane to a different cell because other inmates had threatened him.

“A prisoner in cell number one was saying, ‘Oonu try nuh put him back in here, y’know, because if oonu put him back in here, we a go beat him to sickness.’ Taking the safety of Mario Deane into consideration, we then decided to put him in cell number four,” said Grant. “I heard [inmate witness] saying that inmates on the cell block plastered themselves with faeces. That was a lie. That was total rubbish. I heard him say that he saw me hold Mario Deane by his neck and hit him with a baton. That was also not true,” Grant said.

Clevon also refuted the inmate’s claim that he saw her later that day after Deane had been taken to the hospital, saying instead that she escorted Deane to the hospital and did not return to work.

“I never saw him [inmate witness] after I left for the hospital. Also, from my time working at the Barnett Street lock-up, there was never a cell designated as a ‘mad cell’ or a cell for unsound-mind persons,” said Clevon, referencing the inmate’s testimony about the cell where Deane was beaten.

The case will continue today, with two witnesses expected to take the stand to testify on behalf of Stewart and Grant.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com