Wardens at the Georgetown Prison are being accused of beating a prisoner so badly that he sustained a broken leg, prompting a call by the man’s sister for a probe into the incident which they say is not the first of its kind.
An upset Roena Evans said that her brother, murder accused Stravo Evans, was only rushed to the hospital after his lawyer intervened.
Efforts yesterday to contact Prisons Director Dale Erskine on the alleged beating and the conduct of the prison wardens were futile.
Evans is awaiting a trial in the High Court after being committed for the January 2010 murder of Pascal Johnson.
Standing outside the Georgetown Prisons yesterday, Roena told Stabroek News that she received a phone call at around 9.30 am and was informed that her brother had been severely beaten by three prison wardens. She subsequently rushed to the prisons to “book a visit” to see him but this was denied. As a result, she sent for her brother’s lawyer, who was able to speak with him sometime just before 3 pm.
The woman said that while she was sitting under the shed across the road from the prison compound, she saw the wardens escorting her brother out.
According to Roena, when she went to the prison vehicle and attempted to speak to him, “de officer chase me.” She added that after the officer refused to listen to her explanation, “I start to cuss up and behave bad.” She said that her brother was in so much pain he was unable to speak to her but she and others noticed that one of his legs was broken.
Roena, who visits her brother often, alleged that it is not the first beating her brother has suffered at the hands of the prison wardens. “It happen like two or three times before,” she said, while adding that she is unsure why Evans is being picked on.
Roena said that after her brother was taken away, she was able to speak to the lawyer, who was told by his client that one of the officers started beating him. During the incident, Evans was allegedly hit with a chair and according to Roena it might have been during this time that his leg was broken.
She said that her brother’s account, in which the wardens were identified, was recounted in the presence of the Officer-in-Charge, who said that he was unaware of the situation.
“I want a complete investigation because this is not the first time this thing happening man,” she said, while noting that her frustration over the situation has led her to talk to the media.
