By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A JURY was empanelled yesterday to hear evidence in the police-involved shooting death of 27-year-old Deron Okoye Wilkinson on Independence Highway in 2018.
Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux presided as five jurors were selected to serve.
Police allegedly shot and killed Wilkinson on March 19, 2018, after he reportedly waved a gun in their direction. However, Wilkinson’s family claims he was unarmed and had only been waving a phone at officers.
Police Constable 3620 Lee Dormeus is the subject of the inquest. He was not present during yesterday’s proceedings.
PC Dormeus was interdicted in 2021 after being accused of the murder of Danrico Carey in Nassau Village on November 13, 2021.
In 2023, a previous Coroner’s Court jury returned an open verdict in Dormeus’ alleged involvement in the 2017 death of Ronald Mackey. Mackey was killed on November 25, 2017, following a police chase that began at the junction of Fox Hill and Yamacraw Road. The jury found there was insufficient evidence to determine whether the shooting was justified.
Last month, a separate jury was dismissed, and a new inquest was ordered into the death of 60-year-old Hartman Dawkins, who died in police custody at Central Police Station on January 22, 2023. The decision followed revelations that police evidence in the case had been falsified.
Witness testimony in Wilkinson’s inquest is expected to begin today. Angelo Whitfield will serve as the evidence marshal.
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