(Jamaica Observer) Two police officers who were alleged to be members of a police “death squad” were on Wednesday freed of murder and wounding charges after they were found not guilty in the Home Circuit Court.
Corporal Roan Morrison and Constable Collis Brown were unanimously found not guilty on both counts by a seven-member jury, following five weeks of trial before Justice Jennifer Straw.
The jury deliberated for almost two hours before arriving at a not-guilty verdict.
The policemen were arrested and charged following the shooting death of Phaebian Dinnal and the injuring of another man on Windsor Avenue in May Pen, Clarendon, in February 2010.
Corporal Morrison was accused of killing Dinnal, while Constable Brown was accused of injuring the other man.
Before the verdict was handed down, the usually confident-looking Constable Brown, whose father passed away on Tuesday evening, appeared very sad. However, following the not-guilty verdict, was seen smiling along with his colleague while they sat in the dock.
An elated Corporal Morrison told the Jamaica Observer that he was not surprised by the outcome.
“It was really testing for all of us but, based on the trumped-up charges that were laid against us, I had no doubt about the outcome and I am pleased with the outcome and I am sure that justice has been served,” he said.
Attorney Vincent Wellesley, who had represented Morrison along with Althea Freeman, said he had not only expected the verdict but had also prayed about it because of the ‘challenges’ he faced with the presiding judge.
He said the case should have been dismissed.
