The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

LAWYERS for two policemen challenging the Coroner’s Court ruling on Aaron Rolle’s death in police custody as unlawful have amended their grounds of appeal.

Wellington Olander made the revelation yesterday in a hearing before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs when he sought a short adjournment of the proceedings as a result of the new development.

Crown respondent Ambrose Armbrister said he had not yet been served with the document, but had been in discussions with counsel.

Mr Olander said he and attorney Lennox Coleby would be ready to proceed on the next adjourned date.

Senior Justice Isaacs adjourned the matter to July 1 for a substantive hearing.

Police Constables 2126 Akiel Smith and 2648 Carl Smith have exercised their right to appeal a jury’s verdict in a Coroner’s Court inquest that found Rolle’s death to be an “unlawful” killing and subsequent recommendations made by Acting Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez.

Rolle, 20, died at the Southern Police Station on February 8, 2013, just hours after he was taken into custody for questioning in connection with an armed robbery and escape. A pathologist report concluded that he died from haemorrhaging and a ruptured intestine, caused by blunt force trauma to the chest.

The jury’s verdict came on May 7, 2013.

However, in July 2014, family of the policemen appealed the acting coroner’s decision and the matter remained in limbo until a court date was fixed.

Upon conclusion of the inquest into Rolle’s death, Ms Weech-Gomez recommended the file be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether action should be taken against the officers. She also suggested that it be forwarded to Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade to conduct disciplinary proceedings against the men.

There was also a recommendation that the police force implement surveillance in interrogation rooms, with the control of cameras and recordings monitored by a separate department at police headquarters or elsewhere.