The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer was charged with manslaughter yesterday for killing a 15-year-old boy in 2017, prompting the boy’s mother to break down in tears.

Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest transferred Police Constable Dennis Sturrup’s case to the Supreme Court for trial. The officer is accused of fatally shooting Gino Evante Finley Jr during an alleged armed robbery at Seagrapes Shopping Centre on May 23, 2017.

Evidence presented during the inquest indicated that the teenager, who was wearing a school uniform, was shot in the back of his head.

Although PC Sturrup and PC Denzil Deveaux were named during last year’s inquest, only Sturrup was charged. Yesterday, he was served with and signed a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was informed of his notice of alibi and that his arraignment was scheduled before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson on December 13.

Before this development, K Melvin Munroe, PC Sturrup’s attorney, told the court that his client had originally been directed to return on February 12, 2025. Munroe noted he was notified of the summons at the last minute but had worked diligently to ensure his client’s timely appearance.

During the proceedings, Lynette “Tasha” Brown, Finley Jr’s mother, wept as the officer was officially charged with her son’s death. Speaking outside court, she expressed gratitude to God and the coroner, voicing relief after nearly seven years of waiting.

“Seven years,” she said. “Seven long years. I’m happy for the finding, of course. It’s about time. Y’know, cause he did a criminal act.”

The court also addressed the cases of Valentino Johnson and Shanton Forbes. Their families were told that a decision on whether the matters would advance to the Supreme Court would be announced on December 9. None of the officers involved in those cases appeared in court yesterday.

In Johnson’s case, Constable 4185 Ferguson and former officer 4427 Shando King were involved in the 2023 fatal shooting of the 42-year-old on Seven Hills Road. Forbes’ death involved Police Constable 3731 Greenslade and Constable 3725 Young, who were linked to the 2019 killing of the 21-year-old in Yellow Elder Gardens.

Former officer Shando King is reportedly at large after absconding while awaiting trial for unrelated attempted murder charges.

The Coroner’s Court also noted that five officers’ cases, previously pending review, were officially closed last month and will not proceed to trial. These include cases involving the deaths of Harold Brown and Richard Brown, Deangelo Evans, and Elroy Stubbs and Ernest Forest.

Last month, three officers were informed they would stand trial for manslaughter in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of 31-year-old Azario Major.

While adverse findings against police officers were once rare, they have become more frequent since inquests resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this trend, justifiable killings still dominate. Over the past year, there were 14 rulings of justifiable killings compared to seven findings of manslaughter.