Coroner Linda Virgill is expected to deliver her closing address to the seven-member jury today in the highly-publicised Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of a prison guard and an inmate who were killed during the January 17th jailbreak.
The coroner had initially decided to brief jurors yesterday, but changed her mind after Michael Hanna, attorney for Bettymae Trotman, insisted he would be prepared with a half hour statement today.
Mrs. Trotman is the mother of Neil Brown, the inmate killed during the prison break. Prison officer, Corporal Dion Bowles, was also killed during the escape.
” I did not get the cooperation I expected, notwithstanding this may not have been a regular court. I would wait until tomorrow (Friday) to address,” Mr. Hanna said after questioning Gregory Rolle, a Principal Officer at Her Majestyﾒs Prison.
Mr. Hanna had hoped that Officer Rolle could have disclosed the serial number of his firearm, which was apparently discharged shortly after the escape.
PO Rolle was the senior officer on duty in the Maximum Security wing at the time of the escape of Brown, Barry Parcoi, Corey Hepburn and Forrester Bowe.
He was one of few officers armed on the night of the prison break.
The senior officer has testified that his weapon was turned over to Officer Raoul Sargent on the morning of January 17 – the same firearm that was later given to Officer Sandy Mackey.
Mackey has been named in inquest testimony as the officer who killed Brown, after he had been captured and arrested shortly after his escape.
It is an allegation the officer refused to confirm or deny when questioned by Coroner Virgill on Wednesday in the absence of his attorney, Dion Smith.
If the jury determines at its conclusion that a death was unlawful, meaning manslaughter or murder, the coroner has the power to refer the matter to the Attorney Generalﾒs Office and formal charges could ultimately be brought.
Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming has revealed that the names of certain prison officers have been forwarded to the police, according to the recommendations of an internal investigation into the jailbreak.
Dr. Rahming has also indicated that in some instances, like the case of Sergeant Stephen Sands, officers were transferred.
Sergeant Sands was allegedly given $5,000 to bring a gun on the prison compound for inmate Forrester Bowe.
When the court resumes today, attorneys for several key witnesses and marshals of the evidence will each give their address in the absence of the jury.
The jury is expected to return at 11:30am for the coronerﾒs address.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
