'Chucky' Brown Trial Recap | Chilling allegations in audio tapes

A six-member jury at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston last week was made to listen to August 6, August 10, and September 29, 2013, interviews the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) conducted with Police Constable Collis 'Chucky' Brown, who is facing a murder charge.

Here are selected excerpts from the tapes.

The trial continues today.

In the August 6, 2013, interview held at a hotel in Mandeville, Brown made initial revelations about his involvement in the 'special police squad' to INDECOM Assistant Commissioner Hamish Campbell and an INDECOM investigator.

Brown: All right, all right. When I came back, I was called by Mr H in his office and was asked ... they said that they are forming a team, right? Him go round, go round Mr. F until him tell me them forming a team that a go do some drive-by shooting. Like some fellows weh a do the murders them ...

INDECOM investigator: Uhmm.

Brown: Them a go start some drive-by shooting. Ahm, as we agree, he gave us a vehicle ... a white, a white Probox.

 

Campbell: Give us the story, then we will come back to the details.

Brown: All right. We were given M16 rifles. We were given specific targets, our focus were downloaded at the DIU (Divisional Intelligence Unit) office and given to us.

INDECOM investigator: Uhum.

Brown: We wouldn't go to the station for months. We would stay on the road.

INDECOM investigator: Right.

Brown: We would drive around and look fi the targets them and tek them out.

Brown: If Mr H get any call of any hot killer in Clarendon, he would call us, we would go to the station, meet with him.

Campbell: Uhum ... ?

Brown: ... get the information, either we drive and look at the location.

INDECOM investigator: Uhum ... ?

Brown: Or we just go look at the location and deal wid it same time.

INDECOM investigator: Uhum.

Brown: Right? When that is being done, when we are given certain instructions by Mr H, him normally call [a high-ranking police officer] and tell him say him give we certain instructions fi go tek out certain kind a people. When it is done and we reach back to his office, he always call back and say, "Mission accomplished".

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In the August 10, 2013, interview at the INDECOM headquarters in St Andrew Brown revealed how they covered up alleged killings that were carried out by the 'special police squad' and implicated members of the Police High Command. At this interview was Campbell, INDECOM Chief Investigator Warren Williams, and two other investigators.

Brown: You have Mr B ... now. OK, OK. Let me explain. When have any shootings at all, there are certain persons at the CIB (Criminal Investigations Branch) office who are called to do investigation. Even if they are not at work, they are called to leave dem home and come deal with the investi, the investigation.

Campbell: If you, so, any shooting that you do, any shootings, certain CIB officers come ...

Brown: are called.

Campbell: And would they know that these were already ordered police shootings?

Brown: No, what I'm saying, the fatal shootings or even undercover shootings, they would be informed by the commanding officer.

Campbell: You get pressured, but why did they choose you, and A and L? Why you? Why not another constable or ... ? Why do you think they chose you?

Brown: Well, I, I have the heart, you know. You haffi have the heart fi do things, yuh nuh.

Campbell: You were prepared to do it?

Brown: No, nuh really, but the force set a way that if a senior officer ask you to anything and if you don't dweet, it follow you right through till you leave this thing.

Campbell: But even to kill someone?

Brown: Oh, well, to them it was what ... I can remember when Clarendon was getting out a hand and when Mr H started, and (high-ranking officer), everybody start boast how the team working hard and good, right, and I have things to show weh dem give me, too. Right. Crime is down because a weh we doing.

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During the signing of the transcript of the August 10, 2013, interview on September 29 at a hotel in Clarendon, Brown was heard making comments and laughing as he signed the 93-page document, where the accused, Campbell, and Williams were present.

Williams: Yes, all three us inside here would have to sign.

Brown: Anytime mi dun mi nuh have no name lef (laughing).

Brown: Lawd Jesas, have mercy! Oh mi signing myself into prison now.

Williams: Huh?

Brown: Mi signing myself into prison now.

Williams: The signing you are classifying as punishment?

Brown: (laughing) Yes, man.

Campbell: (Laughs)

Brown: Yeah, man. Like a sinting bad mi do and them tell me fi write 39 words. Me a tell yuh, man!

nickoy.wilson@gleanerjm.com