Policeman sentenced

A Special Corporal was this morning sentenced to four years imprisonment for wounding a taxi operator three years ago.



Leonard Nelson was found guilty on Wednesday in the Home Circuit court for grievously harming 35 year old taxi operator Kevin Downer.



During the trial, evidence was given that on August 27, 2005, Nelson used a baton to hit Downer in the right eye.



He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where the right eye was removed during surgery.



Downer and two other men reportedly went to the Norman Manley International Airport to pick up two children, who were coming from abroad.



They reportedly went into a restricted area to search for the children.



The court was told that Nelson draped Downer in the waist and proceeded to take him to the police station.



Downer was reportedly hit with the baton after he began complaining to the policeman that he was uncomfortable with the way he was being held.



The policeman in his defence said the complainant used indecent language and told him to release him.



He said there was a struggle between them and he used his baton to subdue the complainant.