Lawyers for 'Mario Deane cops' to make written submissions

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

The attorneys representing the three police personnel charged in relation to the 2014 death of Mario Deane following a beating he received while in custody are to make written submissions in the case before the next mention date on September 14.

Presiding parish judge Sandria Wong-Small gave the new court date when Corporal Elaine Stewart and District Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant appeared in the St James Parish Court today.

The lawyers should make their submissions to the court in writing by August 14, a month before the next mention date.

The instruction was given amid ongoing issues with witnesses failing to appear before courts to give evidence resulting in the prosecution electing to close some cases.

Stewart, Clevon and Grant are charged with manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, and perverting the course of justice, arising from allegations that they were on duty at the time when Mario Deane was beaten by other inmates at the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay on August 3, 2014.

Deane died in hospital three days later.