Cops' trial in Mario Deane case delayed due to witness' illness

No trial today as the case of the three cops accused of the 2014 murder of Mario Deane has been pushed back to tomorrow by the Westmoreland Circuit Court as a witness was absent due to illness.

Presiding High Court Justice Courtney Daye rescheduled the ongoing trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant to Tuesday, March 11, after being told by the prosecution that the witness, who had started giving evidence for the prosecution on Friday, March 7, was seeking medical care.

The witness, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kevin Francis, was expected to continue his testimony in relation to the Barnett Street Police Station in Montego Bay, St James, where Deane was reportedly beaten on August 3, 2014 while in custody for possession of a ganja spliff. Francis was the commanding officer in charge of several police stations in the St James division at that time, including the Barnett Street facility.

During his testimony on Friday, Francis told the court that he was on sick leave in August 2014 and had not visited the Barnett Street lock-up at that time. However, he noted that the Jamaica Constabulary Force's lock-up administration policy outlines the police's responsibility for the care of prisoners in custody.

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 beaten.

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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