Mario Deane’s cell was cleaned before my arrival, former INDECOM investigator testifies

Mollie Plummer, a former senior investigator at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) who probed the Mario Deane case, today told the Westmoreland Circuit Court that, based on her observations of the Barnett Street Police Station lock-up where Deane was beaten, the crime scene was not properly secured.

Completing her evidence in the trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant, who are charged in relation to Deane’s death, Plummer told the court that she saw signs that the lock-up may have been cleaned prior to her arrival on August 7, 2014, in contravention of the INDECOM Act, which states that crime scenes must not be tampered with.

“In this particular case, based on the legislation, the scene was tampered with. To the time of my observation, the area where the incident took place was cleaned,” said Plummer, responding to direct questions from presiding High Court Justice Courtney Daye.

Under cross-examination from defence attorney Martyn Thomas, Plummer acknowledged that her forensic team arrived at the crime scene more than 24 hours after the incident, and that the scene would have been processed by forensic personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Meanwhile, the Westmoreland Circuit Court today recalled forensic investigator Detective Constable Rickardo Evans to the witness stand, where he outlined photographs of a drainage pipe on the outside of the cell block where Deane was beaten, with a red substance resembling blood beneath the outer end of the pipe.

He testified that he had swabbed the substance and sent the swab to the forensic lab.

The case was adjourned for continuation tomorrow.

- Christopher Thomas

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