$200,000 bail for cop on manslaughter charge

A DETECTIVE Constable attached to the San Fernando CID was granted $200,000 bail by a San Fernando magistrate before whom he appeared yesterday charged with unlawfully killing (manslaughter) Shaun McLeod.

Attorney Subhas Panday, who represented PC Michael Morris, 26, lamented to First Court Magistrate, Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington that his client had been tried and convicted in the local press. PC Morris, who has seven years service, was charged on Thursday night and granted bail in the sum of $200,000 by Justice of the Peace Nizam Muradali before whom PC Morris appeared late Thursday evening. The officer was charged by ASP Ruthven Paul of the Southern Homicide Bureau, who acted on instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson. Dressed in a cream shirt and navy blue pants, Morris stood silently, with a calm demeanour as Magistrate Wellington read out the charge which stated, “On Friday September 5, you unlawfully killed Shaun McLeod.”

The accused policeman was not called upon to enter a plea since the charge was laid indictably. McLeod, 23, father of a two-month-old son, died shortly after he was arrested by police officers at Library Corner, San Fernando. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital. An autopsy carried out on his body revealed that death was due to blunt force trauma to his head and resultant brain haemorrhaging. Panday told the court that although his client had been charged, the investigation into this matter had not yet begun. He made it quite clear that he was not casting any aspersions on the police complainant, saying, “Mr Paul has done well under pressure from above.” Panday said he did not have all the information pertaining to the case that the DPP has, but assured that he (Panday) had done worse cases where the DPP eventually had to order inquests. Panday told the magistrate that the local press was responsible for the officer to be before him (magistrate) now.

Stressing that his client had been tried and convicted in the press, Panday charged that an attorney “who should have known better” went on and “prejudiced this man.” Magistrate Wellington granted Panday’s request for a long adjournment date and sent the matter to November 25. Scores of onlookers who had gathered in front the court to catch a glimpse of the accused policeman never got the opportunity since after the matter was heard, Morris was discreetly passed through internal steps of the courthouse leading to the cell block. Oblivious to the spectators and members of the media, Morris quickly jumped into a waiting private car which was allowed to park downstairs at the back of the court.