Prisons boss moves to dispel rumours

DESPITE the attempts by Junior Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Commissioner of Prisons Carlo Mc Honey to clear the air on the circumstances surrounding the death of prisoner Ignatius “Shakes” Owen on Sunday while in custody at the Golden Grove Prison, relatives continue to claim a cover-up. “Somebody is trying to cover-up things because we cannot get any information surrounding his death, an angry Natasha Owen, cousin of the dead man told Newsday. The autopsy report was signed by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes. “While we cannot say who killed him, we are sure he was killed and want some answers.” Natasha and the dead man’s brother, Selwyn Owen, are both willing to produce photos of the body and documents signed by Dr des Vignes to prove their point.

In an earlier press conference at the Ministry of National Security, the Commissioner of Prisons said the autopsy results showed death from natural causes, but this was inconclusive. Hinds repeated three times there would be no cover-up. He said the press conference was called to deal with rumours concerning Owen’s death. Based on the information from the CoP he was confident they were not true. “There will be no cover up and no attempt so to do, the police have been given full authority in the prison to interview prisoners, prison officers, to investigate and get full support. And until such time that the results are known, I hope the public will be satisfied that there will be no cover-up.” In an earlier statement CoP Mc Honey said that after coming into remand yard on Thursday, Owen, who was put in cell 13, reported to the supervisor on Saturday that he was beaten by prisoners. He was taken to the infirmary and treated for lacerations to his lip and nose. Sometime later he was found banging his head against a wall.

After advice by the prison doctor, all furniture was removed from the room to prevent self mutilation. When the prison officers returned, Owen was found motionless on the ground. Police were then called in and the family notified. CoP Mc Honey could shed no light on how many prisoners were in the cell or what time he was beaten, when he was transferred or exactly when he died. He stated, however, that he did not rule out the possibility of prison officers being involved. CoP Mc Honey also supported the minister’s statement that there would be no cover-up. Police sources also confirmed that nine prisoners who were in cell 13 when Owen was there, all spoke of a beating but did not say who was involved. Initial investigations said that when Owen came to the prison he started attacking inmates, spitting, beating, kicking and cuffing them. Members of Owen’s family have stated, however, that they are determined to solve the mystery of their sibling’s death at Remand Yard, Golden Grove prison.