Absent witnesses delay today's continuation of Mario Deane trial

The continuation of the Mario Deane trial was pushed back to this afternoon in the Westmoreland Circuit Court, due to the absence of two witnesses.

The trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant was expected to continue with testimony from a new prosecution witness. The ongoing testimony of forensic investigator Detective Constable Rickardo Evans was put on hold to facilitate the new witness' testimony.

However, when the matter was called up this morning, the court was told that the new witness will not be available to present evidence until next Monday, April 14. It has not been disclosed who the witness will be.

Meanwhile, the prosecution told High Court Justice Courtney Daye that Evans was on his way to court with a compact disc (CD) he was previously instructed to bring, with images that are expected to be admitted as part of his evidence-in-chief.

The case is currently stood down until later this afternoon, when the court will receive an update in regard to Evans and the CD.

Stewart, Clevon, and Grant are on trial for manslaughter and misconduct in a public office in relation to Mario Deane's death. It is alleged that they were the officers on duty when Deane was beaten while in custody at the Barnett Street Police Station in Montego Bay, St James on August 3, 2014.

Deane died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital three days after the incident.

Stewart is also charged with perverting the course of justice, under allegations that she ordered the cell where Deane was beaten to be cleaned before the arrival of Independent Commission of Investigations representatives.

- Christopher Thomas

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