By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe yesterday came to the defence of four police officers now on administrative leave after they facilitated the marriage of a man in custody and his fiancée at the Central Police Station.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Munroe said he believes that the officers actions were admirable considering the importance that social groups have placed on the preservation of marriage and the family.
Mr Munroe added that he would be happy to represent each of the officers because it was “utter foolishness” that they faced internal charges and possible dismissal over an act that is not prohibited by law. The station’s Assistant Superintendent, a Corporal, and two Constables are under investigation for the incident.
“People get married in prison all of the time,” he said, “The starting point is the man in question is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
“I think people are just being incentive. I thought as a country we encourage marriage. If we attack the family then something is fundamentally wrong with this country. They got married (and) marriage is a good thing. There is no conceivable reason to prevent marriage. From where I stand people should be allowed to get married wherever they are.
“The fact that people are so up in arms about this is further proof that we aren’t really a Christian nation. Why would people have a problem with the institution of marriage?
“What’s even worse was he had not at the time been convicted of anything.”
The groom, Kendrick Tinker, 35 of Grand Bahamas was taken into custody last Friday after police found him with 50 pounds of marijuana. He was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. He also faced a charge of possession of 33 counterfeit US $20 notes.
The wedding at Central took place on Saturday and set in motion a wave of responses on social media websites.
Commissioner of Police Ellison on Monday held a press conference where he condemned the incident. He claimed it breached Police Force Protocols.
Mr Greenslade at the time said: “It breached force policies and procedure. No one in their right mind anywhere on the planet would recognise that there could be any semblance of order to having a person incarcerated, whose liberties by law properly have been taken from them, to be taken out of a police force cell and be allowed to consummate some marriage ceremony in a police station.
“That is a disgrace to the Bahamas, to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and everything good and decent that we stand for.
“It’s out of order, it should not have happened.”
Comments
Bahamianpride 10 years, 1 month ago
He's right on this one.. People get married in prison all the time... Charlie Mason got married in prison, its a basic right.. As long as it was approved and safety procedures were followed or if there is no policy and procedure violations, its legit.. A supervisor can allow it.
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 1 month ago
There was no promission granted, just the total opposite it was denied.
Required 10 years, 1 month ago
Munroe playing dumb. While people get married in prison all the time, we are talking about a wedding ceremony in jail.
When you get married in prison, you do so because you have already been convicted. When you allow a suspect in jail to get married, you are potentially tampering with evidence.
Surely, Mr. Munroe is familiar with section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code: "In any proceedings the wife or husband of the accused person shall not be called as a witness without the consent of the accused person except in the cases provided in section 175 of the Evidence Act."
By allowing the suspect to get married, these officers prevented the possibility of the fiance having to testify in court.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
What do you do while under da policeman's arrest in Bahamaland, you and your bride get's married. Comrades, if legal then the law is being tak'in to an all new "the law is an complete ass level."
Amen!
Bahamianpride 10 years, 1 month ago
Regardless of motives, unless it violates policy its can take place with permission. The fact that he has not been convicted of a crime grants him more rights not less.. Obviously this is not the best move on part of the station to allow this but strange things happen in stations like beatings, so l can live with a wedding.. Lastly marriage does not protect u from events prior, she would be made to testify
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
What time is it in lawyer land. Tis time for some words of wisdom from the green tie legal brain. Comrade Wayne is one best legal brain we got's but suspicion does arise, if Bran be telling Wayne what say, cause both be saying the darndest things these days? Wayne may not be a professional actor, yet he is never lost for words when it's he turn to talk pure nonsense. Is Comrade Wayne now just like Bran to be running over to the Tribune reporters’ room at Shirley and Deveaux when its time be to emptying he head of whatever it gets all loaded-up with some fresh brainstorms? Is it Wayne’s legal position that just cause the law does not prohibit an employee from doing something, an employer should be handcuffed from disciplining their employers for doing stupid things?
Jailhouse Wedding Angers Police Commissioneral
.../// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-L3Q...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-L3Q...
Bahamianpride 10 years, 1 month ago
If we are to speculate that he married her to prevent her being force to testify it would have the opposite affect, it would only implicates her as an accomplice in his crimes and makes whatever assets she possesses open to be seized by authorities.. This was a bad move on his part because she is no longer some girlfriend that can deny her involvement or knowledge...
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