The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

A FULL year since Aaron Rolle’s death in police custody was ruled unlawful by a coroner’s court, no further action has been taken by the Attorney General’s office.

The Tribune put the question to cabinet members during a live broadcast at the Cabinet office yesterday; however, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson was not present.

National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said while he could not speak on Rolle’s matter, he was sensitive to the “relationship

between the police and communities and the complaints which are made against the conduct of policemen”. 

Dr Nottage maintained that the Complaints and Corruptions Unit was independent and he added that he would review the rules and regulations governing police tribunals to ensure greater transparency of the process.

On May 7 last year, a four women and one man jury found that the force police used against Rolle while in custody was unjustifiable. Rolle, 20, died at the Southern Police Station on February 8, hours after he was taken into custody for questioning in connection with an armed robbery and escape.

A pathologist report later concluded that he died from haemorrhaging and a ruptured intestine, caused by blunt force trauma to the chest.

Police Constable 2126 Akiel Smith and Police Constable 2648 Carl Smith testified that “force” was used on Rolle to restrain him after he attempted to escape custody for the second time.

The coroner’s court does not determine guilt or make any findings or suggestions of criminal, civil, or disciplinary liability. The role of the court is to determine who the deceased was, how the deceased died, when, where and by what means.

Last June the Attorney General said her office was working diligently on the Aaron Rolle “unlawful killing” case. She told The Tribune then that her team had received the court’s recommendations and was “working as hard as we can to make sure the public feels expedition”.

At the close of the inquest into Rolle’s death Acting Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez recommended the file be reviewed to determine whether action should be taken against the officers, and also forwarded to the Commissioner of Police to conduct disciplinary proceedings against the men; surveillance, with the control of cameras and recordings monitored by a separate department at Police headquarters or elsewhere; and for police officers to receive training in the proper restraining of suspects at least every two to three years.

In June, Mrs Maynard-Gibson confirmed that the officers involved remain on administration leave. When asked if she believed that might be seen as insensitive she explained that it is all a part of the “process” that must be followed.