JFJ calls for police accountability in Mario Deane case
Published:Friday | August 23, 2024 | 12:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Mickel Jackson, the executive director of Jamaicans for Justice, wants the police to demonstrate accountability in the 10-year-old case of Mario Deane by starting the trial of the three officers charged in relation to his death when their court case resumes on November 18.
Jackson made the call on Wednesday during a peaceful protest held by Deane’s mother, Mercia Fraser, outside the Barnett Street Police Station in Montego Bay, St James.
Deane was beaten into a vegetative state on August 3, 2014 while in custody at the Barnett Street lockup for possession of a ganja spliff, and died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital three days later.
“Ten years is far too long, and the delay by the state is a travesty to justice. ... Come November 18, it must be the start of holding people to account for the death of this young man, his untimely death,” said Jackson, whose organisation is watching court proceedings on behalf of Deane’s family.
“Come November 18, the Jamaican State must say to the people that now is the time to end police impunity. Now is the time for State accountability, and now is the time for those who were a part of this gentleman’s death to be held to account. That is the message that we are here promoting today,” Jackson added.
Three police officers – Corporal Elaine Stewart and district constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant – are before the court on charges of manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, and perverting the course of justice in relation to Deane’s death.
Their trial has been postponed more than 10 times since their case first came before the St James Circuit Court in September 2018.
Fraser, who has protested outside the Barnett Street facility nearly every year since 2015, expressed disappointment at the delay.
“The court system has been dragging us on for 10 years, and 10 years is just too long. Going in court every time, it just brings back the feelings of the first day [attending court], and I just need to get past that by now, and I really do not see what is holding it up,” said Fraser. “A system has to work together, and in there, I see no togetherness. The judge cannot try the case if you do not have everything ready, and they are not together on it.”
Meanwhile, social activist and politician Dennis Meadows, who has been standing with Fraser in her fight for justice from the day of the incident, has called on Chief Justice Bryan Sykes to intervene to have the case resolved as early as possible.
“On the family’s side, they need closure, and it is unreasonable to ask any family to endure this kind of torture over 10 years. On the other side, those accused persons have been done an injustice, too, because they have the right to a speedy trial, and they need to move on,” said Meadows.