Police investigator shows court photos of blood spatter inside Deane’s cell

WESTERN BUREAU:

Forensic investigator Detective Constable Rickardo Evans yesterday concluded his evidence-in-chief in the Mario Deane trial, which is ongoing in the Westmoreland Circuit Court, by showing the court photographs he took of the cell where Deane was beaten on August 3, 2014.

Yesterday’s testimony marked the 15th day of the trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant, who are charged in connection with the death of Deane. Deane suffered the fatal beating at a time when the three police personnel were on duty at the Barnett Street Police Station, where the incident took place.

During his evidence, Evans showed the court photos he took and compiled on a compact disc, which included pictures of blood spatter along the walls and floor of the cell and adjoining corridor at the Montego Bay-based police station, where Deane was in custody, charged for possession of a ganja spliff.

In his evidence, Evans told the court that a crime scene should be cordoned off to ensure that it is not interfered with before investigators can collect evidence from the location.

“The scene should be cordoned and secured with little or no interference by surrounding persons. The scene should be properly cordoned by police yellow tape that forms a perimeter around the area of focus, and there should be officers ensuring that the perimeter lines are not crossed,” said Evans.

There has been no previous witness testimony to suggest that the cell where Deane was beaten was cordoned off, or otherwise secured. Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) crime scene examiner Peter Parkinson, who testified earlier in the trial, admitted that he had not asked if other people might have contaminated the scene before his arrival.

Evans’ photographs also included sections of the floor inside the cell which appeared to be damp, corresponding with his previous testimony on Tuesday that the floor was wet when he arrived to inspect the cell on August 3, 2014.

Notably, Stewart is charged with perverting the course of justice, as it is alleged that she ordered the cleaning of the cell where Deane was beaten before the arrival of INDECOM investigators.

Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Martyn Thomas, Evans acknowledged that other police officers were at the Barnett Street Police Station aside from the facility’s cell staff and the initial investigator who informed him of the incident.

An eighth witness was expected to give evidence on Wednesday, prior to Evans’ completion of his testimony. However, the court ended up finishing Evans’ evidence because the other witness, so far unidentified, would not be available until April 14.

High Court Justice Courtney Daye subsequently adjourned the trial until April 14, at which time it is expected that two witnesses, including yesterday’s scheduled eighth witness, will testify for the prosecution.

In addition to the perversion of justice charge, Stewart is also charged alongside Clevon and Grant with manslaughter and misconduct in a public office. Following the brutal beating, which left Deane unconscious, he was admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he died on August 6, 2014 - three days after the incident.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com