Yolande Gyles, Staff ReporterSENIOR SUPERINTENDENT Reneto Adams yesterday won the approval of coroner Lorna Errar-Gayle to withhold details of the report made to him of the events of March 14, 2001 in Braeton, St. Catherine, by subordinate officers.
Yesterday's 84th day of the sitting of the Coroner's Inquest into the Braeton slayings heard more debating from the lawyers representing the estates of the youth and the police, than testimony from the witness SSP Adams.
At issue was Mr. Adams's refusal to divulge the details of a conversation he had with DSP Cornelius Walker at Fifth Seal Way on the morning of March 14, 2001. During Mr. Adams's cross-examination by Roger Davis, who represents the estate of Andre Virgo, Mr. Adams was asked what exactly did Mr. Walker tell him when he returned from the house?
Mr. Adams replied, "I don't wish to divulge the details of Mr. Walker's report to me after going down to Seal Way. It is confidential."
However, Mr. Davis and another lawyer representing one of the estates, Richard Rowe requested that the coroner order Mr. Adams to answer. They stated that Mr. Adams's answer was of great importance to the case as it helped to determine both his and Mr. Walker's credibility and to determine the true picture of what took place at Seal Way and that it would assist the jury.
However, lawyers representing the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Oswest Senior Smith and Carolyn Reid argued that any discussion between the two officers on that operation was privileged.
After listening to the propositions, the coroner Lorna Errar Gayle, ruled in favour of the police attorneys. In her ruling, Mrs. Gayle said, "Mr. Adams can rely on privilege and confidentiality in relation to his conversation with Mr. Walker. It does not go to determine truth, form any picture or assist the jury."
Mr. Adams again claimed privilege as a defence when he was asked by Mr. Davis to divulge the names of some of the men who went down to the house with him the morning of the operation. Mr. Adams told the court, "I do not want give those names because that is confidential it is between themselves and I."
Once again the lawyers representing the estates requested that Mr. Adams be forced to answer. However, the coroner decided that she would make her ruling on that matter on Monday and court was adjourned.
The Coroner's Inquest is attempting to ascertain the circumstances and in which seven young men were killed in Braeton, St. Catherine, last year March and who is responsible for their deaths.
The seven, André Virgo, 20; Curtis Smith, 20; Tamayo Wilson, 20; Lancebert Clarke, 19; Dane Whyte,19; Christopher Grant, 17; and Regan Beckford, 15 were killed by the police in a pre-dawn operation.
The SSP Adams-led Crime Management Unit (CMU) headed a police operation that went to the Fifth Seal Way home in search of the person whom they believed was involved in a March 1, 2001 double murder at the Above Rocks police station.
During that incident it is alleged that Grant shot and killed Constable Dwight Gibson and retired Customs officer, Dennis Betton, and wounded another person. Constable Gibson's service revolver, a .38 Smith and Wesson with serial number 2D64395 was also stolen.
According to the police, when they went to the home to arrest Grant, they were met with gunfire, which they returned and the seven youths were killed. The operation ended at about 5:30 a.m.
Later, three of the deceased were linked to the murder of Keith Morris and a robbery of a bar and shop that occurred at Old Braeton on March 14, 2001.
However, a number of residents have disputed the police's claims of a shoot-out and allege that the youths were heard begging for their lives and that they were murdered.
The inquest will continue on Monday at the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court.
