Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Three prisoners who were accused of beating to death a prisoner of unsound mind in the lock-up at the Half-Way Tree Police Station six years ago have been freed.

A Home Circuit Court jury retired Monday and found Wayne Stewart, also called 'Peas Head'; Oliver Smith, also called 'Groof'; and Orville Cole, also called 'Love Lane', not guilty of murder or manslaughter of George Edwards.

The men,who were represented by attorneys-at-law Everton Bird, Valerie Neita-Robertson and Dr. Randolph Williams, had denied being involved in the beating.

Mr. Bird, in commenting on the incident after the trial, said it was unfortunate that Edwards, a prisoner of unsound mind, was in the custody of the police and they could not protect him.

"The tragedy of this case is that anyone can be taken off the street and put in custody," Mr. Bird said.

The Crown, represented by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, led evidence that the three men severely beat and kicked Edwards to death on November 29, 2001.

Prisoners testified

Two men, who were detained in the lock-up at the time of the beating, had testified that they saw the three prisoners beating and kicking Edwards on the morning of the incident. One of them told the court that the prisoners were beating Edwards because he had put on another prisoner's shoes.

Edwards was taken into custody in November 2001 because he had attempted to rape a woman in a bathroom at Mandela Park, Half-Way Tree.

Mr. Justice Horace Marsh presided at the trial.

- barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com