MARIO DEANE COURT DRAMA: Senior cop accuses lawyer of misleading court, inmate says another killed Deane

Saturday, October 04, 2014 | 2:34 PM    

ST JAMES, Jamaica — It was a drama-filled day in the Mario Deane murder case in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court Friday.

What was expected to be routine mention hearing quickly turned dramatic when inmate Adrian Morgan, as first reported by OBSERVER ONLINE, exploded in an expletive-laced tirade, accusing fellow inmate and co-accused Marvin Orr of killing Deane.

“Nuh touch me, why you a touch me fah? You a police? A you kill the people dem pickney and come a call up me name,” shouted Morgan.

“Me give the boy two kick yes but a you kill him,” he shouted at Orr, who sat smiling with his head hung.

Attorney Everton Dewar apologised on behalf of his client, telling the court that Morgan had not been given his medication.

Meanwhile, tempers flared as Egbert Parkins, the senior superintendent of police in charge of St James, accused attorney Franklin Halliburton of “misleading the court”.

Parkins was strident in his dismissal of assertion by Halliburton that lawyers had been refused access to the cell at the Barnett Street Police Station in which Deane was beaten on August 3.

The court had ruled previously that lawyers be allowed to access the cell.

Parkins told the court Friday that he had requested a list of all the attorneys involved in the case — both those defending accused and those with fiats to prosecute.  Parkins said that at the time scheduled for the visit (September 13 at 10:00am) only Orr’s lawyer, Stacy Young, showed up.

After Parkins gave his narrative, in court, Halliburton, who is representing the deaf/mute man who is yet to be charged, and Dewar asked to see the cell but the senior cop insisted the police could not accommodate the request and it was agreed that Halliburton would be allowed to view the cell Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the case involving law officers charged last week in connection with Deane’s death, was postponed until next Thursday, October 9, due to the absence of Senior Magistrate Carolin Tie.

Several documents, including Deane’s post mortem report and forensic certificates, had not been placed on the case file. 

The cops’ bails were extended.

Woman Corporal Elaine Stewart has been charged with manslaughter, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and misconduct in a public office; District Constable Marlon Grant is charged with manslaughter and misconduct in a public office; and District Constable Juliana Clevon was charged with misconduct in a public office.

Paul Reid

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MARIO DEANE COURT DRAMA: Senior cop accuses lawyer of misleading court, inmate says another killed Deane

Bermuda lawyer set to chair FIFA panel hearing over Suarez appeal

Bermudian lawyer Larry Mussenden (File photo)

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Friday June 27, 2014, CMC – Bermudian lawyer Larry Mussenden could hold the key to the fate of banned Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez, media here reported.

Mussenden, who is president of the Bermuda Football Association, chairs a FIFA panel that is likely to hear an appeal against a four-month ban imposed on Suarez after a World Cup biting incident.

Mussenden confirmed his role by text from Brazil.

Bermuda football legend Clyde Best said Suarez acted like a “pitbull” and should have been suspended for a year.

Suarez was banned on Thursday for four months worldwide from any footballing activity, banned from international football for nine games and slapped with a fine of US$118,000 for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder.

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But former West Ham striker Best, 63, said Suarez, leading scorer last season for English Premier League runners-up Liverpool, was fortunate not to get longer.

“He’s pretty lucky if you ask me,” Best told the Bermuda Sun.

“If it had been down to me, it would have been harsher than that.

“He’s done it three times now. The game has no room for that sort of behavior. He did it — there’s no doubt about that. He was like a pitbull, the way he attacked him.

“I’d have given him a year, myself. It’s ridiculous. He’s done it in Holland, in England and now the biggest stage of all, the World Cup. It’s embarrassing for his family and his country.

“I’ve never seen it before, never when I was playing. I have seen plenty of people kick each other but never bite each other.”

The Uruguay FA has said it will appeal the FIFA ruling, which it describes as “excessive”, insisting there was “not enough evidence”.

FIFA procedure states the matter then goes to FIFA’s Appeals Committee, of which Mussenden is chairman. If still unhappy with the verdict, the Uruguay FA can then take its appeal to the Court of Abitration. It’s the biggest ban handed down in World Cup history.

The chairman of FIFA’s disciplinary committee, Claudio Sulser, said: “Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch and, in particular, not at the FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field.”

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Bermuda lawyer set to chair FIFA panel hearing over Suarez appeal

Drug-smuggling Jamaicans in Barbados make lawyer sick

JAYDENE Thomas, a Jamaican lawyer practising in Barbados, has admitted that she is sickened to the core by the number of Jamaicans who get caught attempting to smuggle drugs into that eastern Caribbean island.

Thomas, who is representing a Jamaican woman who after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle marijuana into Barbados, was sexually abused by police officers while in custody, said that at least one Jamaican each week appears before the courts for drug-related matters in that country.This she said helps to put all Jamaicans in a bad light and allows for immigration officials at the Grantley Adams Airport to treat law-abiding Jamaicans with disdain and subject them to harsh treatment.Figures released by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade last year, revealed that a total of 1,485 Jamaicans were refused entry on arrival in Barbados between 2007 and 2012.“Every week at least one Jamaican appears in court for bringing up drugs. It’s getting ridiculous and it looks bad. Trust me, every single week I can count on a Jamaican to be in court for drugs and it is always the same story. Most are from the country areas. I am tired of helping them,” Thomas told the Jamaica Observer.Jamaicans, along with Guyanese nationals, are most often refused entry into Barbados than other Caricom nationals.While there are no modern X-ray machines installed at the Grantley Adams Airport as is the case at Jamaica’s two airports, where ionscan machines donated by the British Government have been set up, narcotics officers at the airport have employed strategies that will nab offenders and Thomas is pleading with Jamaicans to desist from getting involved with the illicit trade, despite the promise of big money.“I want to make a plea to the Jamaicans who are bringing in drugs and those who are contemplating it, to stop. Don’t do it. They will be caught and the promise of payment of US$1,000 is not worth it,” Thomas warned.The sentences for drug trafficking in that country are heavy.The Barbados dollar is valued at US 50 cents.“They don’t realise that it’s a fine or prison and the fines aren’t normal because if they get caught, the minimum amount for a fine is US$7,500 and I have seen fines for BDS$150,000 for 2 kilos of cocaine,” Thomas said.Jamaicans have long complained of being subjected to unfair treatment at the hands of the Barbadian officials, but Thomas is of the view that the behaviour of some of her countrymen have fanned the flames of that fire.In May this year, 20-year-old Shanique Ameike Hyman of 90 West Street in Kingston, was sentenced to 12 months after she passed out 17 parcels of marijuana weighing half a pound at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.The pregnant Hyman arrived in Barbados from Trinidad, cleared immigration and was then interviewed by the police.She was arrested and taken to the hospital and examined by a doctor where she confessed that she was pregnant. This was confirmed by ultrasound.The young woman also admitted that she had ingested drugs, and tests revealed contraband in her digestive system.Hyman admitted in court that she was smuggling the ganja to support her family and pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, trafficking in the drug and importing the drug.Thomas also had a warning for Jamaican women who travel to the eastern Caribbean island to make a living off the sex trade by working as exotic dancers or in massage parlours, that they too are taking a big risk.The Jamaican women are sought after in Barbados and often promised big bucks by Barbadian pimps to sell their ‘wares’ in that country.But Thomas issued a stern warning that Jamaican women should be wary of the hustlers.“Your passports will get taken from you as soon as you land and you will have no way out. You will be exploited and will have to be constantly watching your backs because you are running from the law,” she said.THOMAS… every week at least one Jamaican appears in court for bringing up drugs

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Drug-smuggling Jamaicans in Barbados make lawyer sick