A 33-year-old woman who said that she was badly beaten by a policewoman after attempting to make a report about a matter was yesterday arraigned on a charge of assaulting a police inspector.
The allegation against Annette Brummell is that on May 15 at the East La Penitence Police Station, she assaulted Diana Black, an Inspector of Police acting in the execution of her duties.
Brummell, a vendor of 144 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg denied the charge when it was read to her by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
When given a chance to speak, the woman who had visible marks of violence
told the court that after arriving at the Brickdam police station to make the report, the inspector “for no reason at all” instructed that she [Brummell] be taken to the East La Penitence Police Station and locked up. The defendant said that when she tried to enquire at the station why she would be taken to the lock-ups, the female inspector started to punch her with a pen she had in her hands.
The woman said that by this time the inspector and some other ranks forced her into the washroom and during a scuffle, they tore the hooded part of her blouse. The woman had visible black and blue marks on her body.
At this point the presiding magistrate invited the defendant into the well of the court to properly examine the marks. The magistrate said that the woman had at least three puncture wounds, adding that the black and blue marks of violence were also visible.
Magistrate Octive-Hamilton recorded the injuries she saw on the woman’s skin. She said that based on the allegation the woman has made, it appears as if she was indeed beaten. As a result, she then ordered the prosecution to conduct a thorough investigation into the woman’s claims.
After looking at the woman’s injuries as well, the prosecution said it was “clear that indeed she [Brummell] has marks of violence.”
The defendant was placed on $15,000 bail. She was ordered to return to court tomorrow.
