‘I just want to move on with my life’ - Cops free Foote’s SOE detainees
Published:Friday | November 1, 2019 | 12:21 AMAdrian Frater/News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
Two men whose attorney had claimed that they had been maliciously detained under the state of emergency despite the court ordering their release are now free.
Attorney-at-law Don Foote had argued that the detention of Remando Kerr and Kevin Miller was unconstitutional and charged that the police’s action had sought to circumvent the power of the judge.
Miller was released without charge, and Kerr was slated to appear in the Parish Court in Whithorn, also in Westmoreland, yesterday. Shortly after 1 p.m., Foote informed this newspaper that Kerr had also been freed without charge.
Foote, in an October 24, 2019, edition of The Gleaner , described the detention by the police as “wicked” and “ungodly”.
Miller, who said he was “just happy to free”, said he wanted to rebuild his life.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, yet they had me locked up for one month and three weeks,” said Miller, describing life behind bars as “rough”.
“I am not thinking about any legal action right now. I just want to move on with my life.”
While efforts to contact Kerr were unsuccessful, a relative told The Gleaner that the family was delighted to have him back home after many weeks in custody.
“The lawyer was working very hard, but things were just not moving until the story came out in The Gleaner,” said the relative.
Foote, who had threatened to resign from the Cornwall Bar Association because of its perceived tepid show of support, was philosophical in claiming victory for the two men.
“Marcus Garvey was right as to the difference between justice, power, and authority,” said Foote, suggesting that social class was a factor in the men’s detention.”
In a bid to curb a spike in violent crime, states of emergency have been declared in seven of 19 police divisions across Jamaica this year, including the western arc of St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.