Update | Absent juror in Mario Deane trail excused on medical grounds

The absent juror from the trial of cops charged in the 2014 death of Mario Deane, which was intended to begin on Tuesday, was excused by the Westmoreland Circuit Court on medical grounds.

High Court Justice Courtney Daye excused the juror when the matter against Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant was called up shortly after 10:45 a.m., citing a medical report which was previously submitted on the juror's behalf.

"The reason why the juror was not here (on Tuesday) is that she had to stop and get medical attention on her way here. The doctor is recommending that she will not be available here over the next 30 days...based on that, I will have to excuse you," Daye explained, briefly addressing the juror in the process.

Following the excusing of the juror, a short empanelling session was held to bring a replacement juror on to the seven-member jury.

The trial's start was rescheduled to this morning because the court was unable to contact the juror on Tuesday.

The court is currently giving instructions to the jurors on how they are to weigh the evidence during the trial, ahead of receiving evidence from the prosecution's first witness.

Stewart, Clevon and Grant are charged with manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, and taking steps to pervert the course of justice, under allegations that they were on duty at the Barnett Street Police Station lock-up in Montego Bay, St James, on August 3, 2014, at the time when Deane was reportedly beaten while in custody.

Following the alleged incident, Deane was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital in an unresponsive state and died three days later.

It is also alleged that Stewart, the senior officer on duty, ordered the cleaning of the cell where the beating took place before investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations arrived.

- Christopher Thomas

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