A civil matter against five police officers facing charges in connection with the death of a Portsmouth man has been discontinued.
They appeared before the Civil Division of the High Court on Wednesday morning.
The officers are now in custody and they are expected to appear before a magistrate later today.
The officers and their legal team have been resisting and challenging the charges which are yet to be formally read to them.
The matter has been sent for judicial review but in January, High court Judge Bernie Stephenson issued a stern warning to all parties involved that “the court will not accommodate any further adjournments and or applications on this matter.”
The officers, PC’s Orlan Vigille, Delvin Challenger, Martin Seaman, WPC Gemma Louis and Sergeant Hayden Morgan, were arrested and charged for the murder of Joshua Etienne who was found dead in police cells in Portsmouth on July 4, 2014, a day after he was arrested for possession of ammunition.
No charges have been read to them since.
DNO is following this story and will provide updates when the officers appear in the Magistrate’s Court later today.
Justice delayed is justice denied . This is just injustice on the part of the judiciary system in this country , having a family of an innocent man who was at the mercy of law-enforcers to protect life as their motto to be so brutally murdered by the same five horsemen who the state paid to protect him whilst he being in custody . Today the said who were supposed to be protected under custody was killed by these five horsemen and a dragging of feet is in effect to poison the law into let these men be charged and confined to prison . Ahhhh magway sah . Is it another case where the violators are acquitted and the deceased who suffered and brutally killed be considered the guilty one deserving death ? Hmm ….if is so , well the country really nice bouy ?
Where I be there nuh?
What a sad situation, I would not be surprised if some of these people will be out of state when the charges are supposed to be read next week. I have no confidence in our courts again. Very, very sad and dangerous.
DNO you definitely have to do something about your bloggers wii, i mean honestly!!!!!!!
Why are they so bent on making this beautiful island look so bad in the international front? Don’t they know that their comments are exposed to the WHOLE WIDE WORLD (WWW)? Read one blogger comment below:
“Why should the court system continues to waist scarce resources in make belief. We know well that nothing is going to come out of this case yet still we persue.” and just see how they spell PURSUE!
They are making us Dominicans look as DUNCE AS THEY ARE!!!!! I bet my last dollar they are all DIE AS POORER!!!!
They are only telling the truth. I guess you want to fool all the people that don’t or haven’t lived here into thinking everything is paradise, when that couldn’t be farther from the truth. If the image of the island is to change, the people contributing to degrading it through corruption, pollution, theft and lies have to change for the better. Like one blogger keeps saying: The island nice boy! He isn’t talking about the majority of people here.
Joe, unfortunately it are our authorities that make our country look bad. Should we not comment on things when they go wrong or we think they are not correct.? Should we just remain silent and let the authorities do all the talking for us? No, this is a democracy with a constitution and it is the duty of those we select to make sure that the country is run properly and not made to look bad. Do you want censorship to be introduced as implied by Kelver Darroux? A lot of us will have to die before that happens and even then comments will come from outside, unless you shut down the internet, facebook etc. and turn us into another N. Korea.
Hold on my friends. all will be fine. The same people that’s quick to judge you all are the first to call for the police when their a.. in grass. To the other officers out there, keep doing your job,dont be discouraged. Love you guys. One love.
So SEKCO and Danny case against Mano arson gone down the drain – bubbles case he come out with a 5k profit – and no charges pressed against him for the possession of an unlicensed firearm- well will not be surprised if likewise I see this one go down the drain. That is “just” Dominica for you no where else!
What is unbelievable and really really sad, is that this justice system in Dominica has no conscience. You mean from july last year, eight months now this matter is running around in circles THEY CANNOT BE CHARGED UP TILL THIS DAY? NO NO NO, this is a matter for the human Civil rights activists of the United Nations Organisation to handle. Enough is enough. This country is now out of hand, clearly demonstrating that “NO LAW NO CONSTITUTION CAN CHARGE THEM FOR THEIR CRIME”!!!
Admin: Was it “discontinued” or was it “stayed” until the outcome of the criminal case.
ok now I understand, It was not a civil case by the victims family, but the Judicial Review case which was discontinued.
I am not a lawyer so please explain this article to me in layman terms.
1.
A civil matter against five police officers facing charges in connection with the death of a Portsmouth man has been discontinued. They appeared before the Civil Division of the High Court on Wednesday morning.
2.
The officers are now in custody and they are expected to appear before a magistrate later today.
DNO has been informed that charges will be read to the five officers in the matter
ah, ah, ah.sad sad
but but what is this i am reading there na.. smdh
Why should the court system continues to waist scarce resources in make belief. We know well that nothing is going to come out of this case yet still we persue.
What a ting!
hurry jail them
DNO Can you explain what this means ” Civil matter discontinued”. Are they free? No more case? will there be a criminal case and will this affect the outcome of the criminal case?
Just curious
in other words is is no longer a private matter it has been possibly raised to a criminal case
I hop they pay for wat they do