Three police officers, Delvin Challenger, Martin Seaman and woman police corporal, Jemma Louis, have been denied bail by high court Judge Errol Thomas.
The three have been charged with murdering Joshua Etienne in 2014 while he was in police custody in Portsmouth.
They had sought judicial review challenging the charge and eight months after the incident, the charge was read to them.
Also charged in connection with the incident are Hayden Morgan and Orlen Vigille.
The Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP ) reduced Morgan’s charge from murder to man slaughter and he was the granted bail shortly after being charged. Vigille was also granted bail by the court some weeks later.
The DPP has strongly opposed bail for the accused who are represented by Dawn Yearwood Stewart, Zena Moore Dyer and Gina Dyer Munro.
What is the sense to bail two and three are being denied bail what injustice is that all were present the night so if two are out all supposed to get bail it, s just cocomac
I pray and hope the government of Dominica is prepared for a full pledged law suit after this is all over. Yes the young man died in the officers custody all five not three. As far as I am concerned it matters not that they find preference in some. They were all present and should all be remanded or all be out on bail. The government gone take some beating from this case. And officers I understand you all loyalty to each other but you gots to talk up. And the guy who died was not to say some promising young man, he has been someone that his own community was tired of him and even family members were tired of his behavior. So yes it’s sad he died and my condolences to those who loved him dearly but regardless you all need to think before you jump to conclusion cause them same officers you all have called for aid. Never bite the hands that feed you. Things happen but many a times we fail to realize what led to it. God is in control and the end the victim will become victorious.
You do not know what you are talking about. If the government of Dominica, let criminals walk simply because the Government is intimidated by law suet’s, then our country will become a lawless place overnight, therefore your personal life will be in jeopardy!
Manslaughter is a lesser charge than murder, hence, bail can be granted unless the court believes the people charged with manslaughter are a high risk of fleeing the country. Murderers do get bail, so you need to ask yourself why are they not granted bail; rather than thinking of favoritism.
Could it be that the court discovered that they are too risky to grant bail; because they have the potential to flee the country and avoid prosecution. That may be the obvious reason bail was denied!
Its painful for both families
T’s comment is totally commendable. T’s husband is a responsible police officer and she worries for him. There is corruption all over the world today. A police officer is trusted and is there to defend everyone whether in custody or not. Law and order. Justice. The police are not judge or jury they are here to make sure everyone is safe while in their care and protection. I am so pleased to see that the law is being followed in this case. Power, does not mean that you can bully, beat, corrupt anyone or lie. A policeman is to be trusted, he/she is there to make sure that all citizens are looked after and dealt fairly with before they go before a court of law, magistrate or jury. Let us hope that this case changes ideas here. There are so very many good policemen and women in Dominica be proud and up hold the law. We thank the police here and trust that they will always do their job which is to protect citizens and uphold the law.
As much as we would like to see these guys punished we know that is not going to happen. First of all there is no video, pics or evidence of what happened at the police station and unless they can get one of the officers who know what happen to testify against the others this case aint going no where. It is difficult to prove murder by Police if part of there job is using force. Joshua cannot say what happen to him. They could claim using force and he was resiting arrest and even if we all know it may be false its difficult to prove otherwise. The most that will happen to at least two of the officers is dismisal. It is the country we live in.
The guys should know how to control their anger against civilians. This is a message and lesson to others that they can’t go beating on people.
This is great news, police officers are there to help and protect the citizens not to kill and destroy,because the day the killed this young man ,something died in his family also..their pain will be for life ,no explanation will satisfy them as to why is their son ,brother,uncle,nephew,cousin or friend is dead while he was in police custody,but they need justice ,the police should not get away with it at all ,neither should civilians get away with murder ,rape or any other crrime which is against the law…justice must be down..
just apply for bail again
Keep the faith.
many Officers have been in similair situations and were given their job back after battling in the courts.
just pray and keep the faith.
where there is a will there is a way.
Yea bail, BUT NOT WITH THOSE THREE
Even if they were to be given their job back after battling through the courts, IF their conscience is at work it will beat them for a very looooong time.
In life we may see some people in certain conditions and we may say “Ala, Ala.” But we need to keep in mind the creole phrase – “avan ou di ala, mandé sa’y fè”
Stupid PO……
is people like you who have made a mockery of the black race and our country-this is a fight for justice regardless of position,political affilation and colour of skin.keep your ignorance to yourself for the u have already sold yourself as a rat pretending to love this country furthermore you are now labelled as a wolf in sheep clothing.
this is not a fight for you.
What the heck are you saying? Why didn’t they pray and keep the faith instead of beating that man to death? SMH
Why is it that other murderers getting bail and the three officers are being denied bail time will tell
Agreed! As I read on DNO, a man shot and killed the Bertrand man in Laudat. At first he was not charged. Then later he was charged and released on bail. The DPP gave him permission to leave D/ca. He was due to return in September 2014. I have asked a few times, has he returned to D/ca to face the Court? If he did, surely DNO would have posted the information. Where did he go to and where is he?
This is a man, a convicted murderer who should never have been granted bail or allowed to leave D/ca. I have never heard of such a thing. Only in Dominica you say?
The sad thing is I know the three officers. My spouse is an officer too and I pray everyday that he controls his temper no matter what situation he faces especially at work as he is in a specialized section. We have to understand that situations can be dealt with in so many different ways, and the one they took no matter how much answers they wanted was wrong. They all have children and I know they would never want someone to beat their children or family to death no matter what the case may be. They have been denied bail, I do hope that the time they ware spending in prison will make them reflect on the past, how it could have been done differently and I do hope and pray that they have ask God to forgive them for what they did because whatever punishment that they get in the end they brought it on themselves.
allu giving all know criminals bail for murder yet you continue to victimize some officers who were charged for a murder which was not premeditated…
And is people like you that making the police think they can hit people and get away. They should pay for the crime commited. Make an example of them, so others will not try it. If the people who are supposed to protect and serve are the ones doing the killing, what example are they setting?
AND YOUR POINT?
I wonder if you’d call it victimizing if it was your son. Freaking double standards.
Do you know what I think why this happened to the man? If it is true the officers injured him and killed him, that man could have put up a big fight and God knows whatever else he said and did which is why he died. The man could have been very angry that he was arrested.
Who knows? He could have been under the influence. When they are that way, they have a special strength that no one can control unless they are sedated.
I will await the hearing and outcome of this case. I am not putting any blame on the officers.
Am happy they were denied bail, these people should not see outside ever again, I know the case was not tried but the guy died in their custody.
Them three will be put away in STOCKY they gone from our society..
This is the sad part of it. On both sides, what really happened in that cell? It is worth thinking of.