The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

RODNEY Moncur’s interview while in police custody was not video recorded because the cameras were not working, a policeman admitted in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The admission was made during the commencement of the preliminary inquiry into an allegation that Mr Moncur posted a grossly indecent picture on Facebook.

Detective Corporal Olsen Noel said the cameras that were present “aren’t functioning right now”.

Moncur, who was arraigned on April 4, faces a single charge of committing a grossly indecent act.

It is claimed that between March 1 and March 29, he “intentionally and unlawfully” published a photograph of Jamie Smith, who is dead.

Mr Moncur opted to be tried by a jury in the Supreme Court rather than a Magistrate, and was granted $7,500 bail, which he posted the following day.

He was initially told that a Voluntary Bill of Indictment would be served on him on May 10 to fast-track the case to Supreme Court for trial.

However, during his return appearance before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell, he was told that the Attorney General’s Office decided to have a preliminary inquiry in Magistrate’s Court No 2 before Magistrate Constance Delancey.

Corporal Olsen,who sat in on Moncur’s March 30 record of interview with Insp Mark Barrett, testified yesterday on what he witnessed during the 8.35am interview where Moncur was questioned under caution.

The High-Tech Crime Unit officer claimed that Moncur admitted to posting indecent images on Facebook, but denied breaking into the Rand morgue at Princess Margaret Hospital.

He added that Moncur declined to give a written statement and did not wish to read over the record of interview.

Moncur cross-examined the witness next, beginning with his arrest.

“Mr Noel, do you know how I got to the Central Detective Unit?” Moncur asked.

“No sir, I would think that you were arrested and brought there,” the officer answered.

When Mr Moncur reiterated his question, Noel said: “I was not apart of the apprehension team.”

Moncur asked the officer if an alibi was offered during the interview, to which the officer said: “You said something like you would not divulge your sources.”

The civil rights activist then suggested to the witness he told both officers to contact Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez for his alibi.

Officer Noel agreed with the suggestion, but when asked if he verified the alibi, the officer said: “It’s not my duty.”

He also admitted that his report did not reflect that an alibi was offered.

The officer said that as far as he knew, there were no complaints from the minister or Public Hospitals Authority officials about a break-in.

When asked whose photograph he was accused of taking, the officer said “I don’t know.”

Moncur asked the officer if the interview was recorded. The officer answered, “No it wasn’t”.

“There were cameras, though?” Moncur asked.

“Those cameras that were there aren’t functioning right now,” the officer said.

The magistrate set an adjournment to this morning and noted that a warrant remains in effect for Sgt Dale Strachan, who did not show up to the proceedings.

Moncur requested a warrant be put out for the investigator, Barrett, whom he said is easy to locate.

Magistrate Delancy denied the request, noting that she had the discretion not to issue the warrant for Barrett.

The accused offered to assist the court, noting that Barrett was in charge of the High-Tech Crime Unit and like the officers in the unit filled with computers, was likely to be on Facebook all day.

“We are wasting precious judicial time,” Moncur said.

The magistrate noted his submission before adjourning the inquiry to the following morning.