The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE sergeant testified in Magistrate’s Court yesterday about his role in arresting private investigator Oswald Poitier for libel allegations made against him by Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis.

Poitier is accused of intentionally defaming Mr Davis after officers claimed he recorded and distributed voice notes of himself on social media, accusing Mr Davis of instructing people to “harm, take out and kill other people”.

It is alleged Poitier committed the act sometime before November 16 last year.

During his first appearance before Magistrate Samuel McKinney last month, Poitier denied the offence.

His trial began yesterday, with testimony from Sgt Demaril Curtis, who was instrumental in the arrest of Poitier in late April.

Sgt Curtis, who is attached to the San Salvador North Police Station, told the court how he and another officer, acting on instructions, cautioned and arrested Poitier at his home on the island.

He told the court Poitier “looked shocked” when officers first arrived at his home in Cockburn Town early that morning.

“I knocked on the door and he opened and he looked shocked,” Sgt Curtis said, adding that Poitier was only in his underwear at the time.

Sgt Curtis said he then tapped Poitier on the shoulders and explained that he was being arrested for libel.

The police officer said it was at that point the accused asked him if the matter was in reference to a text he had sent about “Brave” Davis.

However, Sgt Curtis told the court he was not fully briefed on the situation and didn’t know the particulars. He also said Poitier didn’t give any further explanation concerning what the matter involving Mr Davis was about.

“I told him ‘most likely’ and I would find out more information for him,” he told the court.

The sergeant said before officers took the accused to the police station, they allowed him to get dressed, after which point he was cautioned and subsequently arrested.

When asked by the Crown prosecutor if Poitier had said anything to him while in custody, Sgt Curtis said the accused told him he thought the matter had already been dealt with and further said he didn’t know why it was being brought back up.

“He said they didn’t have to come arrest him and all they had to do was call him and he would’ve gone...That was basically the same thing he kept on repeating,” the sergeant added.

When asked, Sgt Curtis told the court he had known Poitier since he moved to San Salvador, which was about a year earlier.

During cross-examination, Poitier’s attorney, Joel Seymour, asked the witness if it was regular police procedure to allow suspects to walk away and get dressed before being cautioned and arrested.

However, Sgt Curtis insisted that in this particular case, the accused was in his “boxers” and was also known to him.

“I don’t think he would’ve run away or give us any (indication) that he would be aggressive, so I allowed him to put his clothes on,” the police sergeant explained to the court.

When pressed on the issue again, the witness replied: “Under the circumstances, no.”

Asked how long it took for Poitier to be taken from San Salvador to New Providence, Sgt Curtis replied “about 24 hours”.

Sgt Curtis was asked no further questions and he was subsequently excused.

The trial resumes on August 30.