Case against cops in Mario Deane incident pushed back

WESTERN BUREAU:

The preliminary examination in the case against three of the six police officers who were implicated in the much-publicised beating death of St James construction worker Mario Deane, has been deferred until August 18.

Corporal Elaine Stewart, District Constable Juliana Clevon and District Constable Marlon Grant, who are all charged with manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, and perverting the course of justice, all appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

The trio had their bails extended after clerk of the court Yanique Henry told presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that a number of prosecution witnesses were not available.

"In relation to the main witnesses, they are not here today ... the challenge is that some of them are in custody and are serving time, and one of them that was in custody is now on bail," Henry told the court.

"Then a subpoena will have to be sent for him (witness on bail)," said Tie, prior to setting the new August 18 date.

The three police officers were charged after 31-year-old Deane died in hospital on August 6, 2014, three days after sustaining injuries from a beating he received while he was in the Barnett Street lock-up.

It is alleged that the three police officers, who were on duty at the Barnett Street Police Station at the time when Deane, who was arrested for being in possession of a ganja spliff, was reportedly denied bail under questionable circumstances.

It is further alleged that Stewart gave instructions for the cell, where Deane was beaten, to be cleaned before the arrival of investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations.

In addition to the police officer, three men, who were said to be in the same cell as Deane, are also facing criminal charges arising from the same incident.