No ICU bed was available for Mario Deane at Cornwall Regional Hospital, doctor testifies

A doctor attached to the St James-based Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) today told the Westmoreland Circuit Court that, despite his recommendations, Mario Deane was not placed on the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) due to a lack of bed spaces in that department.

Dr Chapman Longmore, who was an acting senior resident at the CRH's Department of General Surgery in 2014, made the revelation today under cross-examination during the ongoing trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant, who are charged in relation to Deane's death on August 6, 2014.

During his initial evidence-in-chief, Longmore testified that he first saw Deane on August 5, 2014, two days after Deane was admitted to the CRH following a beating he suffered while in custody at the Barnett Street Police Station lock-up for possession of a ganja spliff.

Longmore said that following his examination of Deane's injuries, plans were put in place to have Deane admitted to the ICU, amid concerns that he was suffering bleeding in the brain and was unable to breathe on his own without an endotrachial tube being put down his throat to supply him with oxygen.

But under cross-examination from defence lawyer Martyn Thomas, Longmore told the court that the hospital's ICU had a maximum capacity of six beds at that time, of which two beds were non-functional and the remaining four were already occupied by other critical cases.

He said that inquiries were made to at least two other medical facilities about spaces in their ICUs, but no spaces were available.

Additionally, Longmore said that junior staff at the CRH tended to Deane's care before he himself was notified about the case on August 5, 2014.

Stewart, Clevon and Grant are charged with manslaughter and misconduct in a public office, arising from Deane's death.

Stewart is also charged with perverting the course of justice, under allegations that she ordered for the cell where Deane was beaten to be cleaned before the arrival of investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations.

- Christopher Thomas

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