As a result, testimony from two witnesses was put off to today.
Director of Public Prosecution and lead prosecutor, Bernard Turner, refused to disclose the details to the court. He instead asked for the opportunity to look into the situation.
Jurors were expected to hear testimony from former prison escapee, Forrester Bowe, whose family had advised him not to testify until speaking with his attorneys Fred Smith and Fayne Thompson.
Principal Officer at Her Majesty’s Prison Van Johnson was also expected to take the stand on Monday.
Johnson was named by one of the witnesses as the person reportedly responsible for bringing hacksaw blades into the Fox Hill facility.
Both inmates Barry Parcoi and Corey Hepburn testified using blades to cut their cell bars, aiding their escape along with Bowe and Neil Brown, who along with Police Corporal Dion Bowles died during the melee.
Hacksaw blades were also found in a few cells that were searched after the incident, the court heard.
Coroner Linda Virgill advised Johnson on Friday to have his attorney present when he testifies, as his testimony could be used against him.
But Johnson told the court yesterday that his attorney had still failed to appear.
The prosecution is expected to call fewer than 10 to 15 more witnesses in the inquest, but Mr. Turner has stressed that this list is “not set in stone” as other witnesses could be called.
A coroner’s inquest is aimed at inquiring when, where, how and in what manner an individual died.
The Coroner’s Act provides that in such a case, a jury may determine that a person was responsible for the death of another either lawfully or unlawfully.
If the court determines at its conclusion that a death was unlawful, then the jury could make a determination on whether the death was manslaughter, murder or just a homicide, according to Mr. Turner.
“The jury can then determine whether the homicide was murder or manslaughter or just a homicide,” Mr. Turner explained.
“If that is a verdict of the jury, the coroner is then entitled to commit that person to the Supreme Court for trial so that the coroner’s inquest is in effect converted into something like a preliminary inquiry, but it does not mean that a person would be tried. It means that the depositions would be sent to the Attorney General’s Office for consideration.”
The Act also requires that if at any time the police charge a person with a homicide, the inquest would be adjourned pending the conclusion (of the criminal case).
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
