No prison time for two of three cops convicted in Mario Deane case
Published:Tuesday | July 1, 2025 | 7:46 PM
Two of the three cops convicted in the Mario Deane case will not go to prison as their sentences have been suspended.
Sentencing was handed down in the Westmoreland Circuit Court by High Court Justice Courtney Daye today.
Both Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant were each sentenced to three years for manslaughter and one year for misconduct in a public office.
However, the manslaughter sentence was suspended for three years, while the misconduct sentence was suspended for two years.
This means that they will not serve anything behind bars.
However, Corporal Elaine Stewart was sentenced to five years for manslaughter, one year for misconduct in a public office, and one year for perverting the course of justice.
Her sentences are to run at the same time, meaning she will serve five years.
However, Stewart was released on bail pending an appeal.
The charges stemmed from 31-year-old Deane's death on August 6, 2014, three days after he was beaten while in custody at the Barnett Street Police Station lock-up in St James for possession of a ganja spliff.
The three cops were charged on the grounds that they were on duty at the lock-up when Deane was beaten.
Additionally, Stewart was accused of ordering the cleaning of the cell where Deane was beaten ahead of the arrival of personnel from the Independent Commission of Investigations.
All three were found guilty in May.
Reacting, Deane’s mother, Mercia Fraser, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentencing.
“I’m just disappointed because of the kind of beating Mario get and the stand inside the station and everything, I was expecting more,” said Fraser.
“It shows me that in spite of all these years… it seems like his life really means nothing. To me that is how I look at it, I am disappointed,” she added.
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