Defence lawyer questions competence of INDECOM investigator in Mario Deane case
Published:Monday | May 19, 2025 | 5:43 PM
Defence attorney Dalton Reid, the lawyer for one of the three police personnel in the Mario Deane trial, this afternoon questioned the competence of the lead investigator in the matter while presenting his closing arguments in the Westmoreland Circuit Court.
Reid, who is representing Constable Juliana Clevon, told the trial's seven-member jury that Mollie Plummer, the Independent Commission of Investigations' senior investigator in the case of Deane's beating and subsequent death, was not adequately prepared when she gave evidence for the prosecution earlier in the trial.
He cited Plummer's repeated requests to reference her notes that she had taken while investigating the August 3, 2014 incident where Deane was beaten while in custody at the Barnett Street Police Station lock-up in St James for possession of a ganja spliff, and his subsequent death three days later.
Reid argued that, as a prosecution witness, Plummer could have easily procured her notes ahead of the time when she was called to the stand.
Reid also labelled an inmate who had previously testified for the prosecution as an opportunist whose testimony was inconsistent.
The trial continues on Tuesday morning, when High Court Justice Courtney Daye will give his summation of the case and give instructions to the jury.
Clevon is on trial along with Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constable Marlon Grant for manslaughter and misconduct in a public office in relation to Deane's death on August 6, 2014, three days after he was beaten while in custody at the Barnett Street lock-up.
Stewart is also charged with perverting the course of justice, for allegedly ordering that Deane’s cell be cleaned before the arrival of investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations.
- Christopher Thomas
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