Unlikely Cooper died from beatings

PROF Hubert Daisley, a pathologist employed at the University of West Indies (UWI) St Augustine, and a medical doctor at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), yesterday said that it was highly unlikely prisoner Anton Cooper died of severe beatings at the remand section of the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca. However, Daisley revealed that of late, prisoners have been dying because of a new type of asphyxia called “restrained or positional asphyxia.” An autopsy report revealed that Cooper died of asphyxia. Daisley said that death from restrained asphyxia can occur in prisoners who are boisterous and restrained over the stomach or chest.

Led in evidence by defence attorney Gilbert Peterson SC, Daisley and members of the jury were shown photographs of Cooper’s body after he was found dead in his cell on June 25, 2001. Daisley said it was really a mystery how one part of the body would react to a blow, while the other parts of the body remained normal. Daisley said the only evidence of injury was the discolouration of the individual’s right cheek and eye, and knee. On the issue of Cooper being beaten about the body, Daisley could not determine where the inflicted areas were, and denied statements that the colour of Cooper’s skin masked the bruises.

“If a person whether white or black is beaten with a staff, one would surely find some contusions or bruises on the skin. The notion that the appearance of beatings cannot be seen on black people is false. If a black person is beaten you can see the bruising, even eight hours after death, the bruises would become very pronounced on a black skinned person. “If you get damage to the anterior (front) area of the chest or abdomen, there would be injuries. If you dissect his chest you should see injuries in the muscles at tissue level, but if there was no injury in the first place, then it never happened,” said Daisley.

Daisley is to reappear in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court on Tuesday to be cross-examined by the prosecution. Meanwhile, lead prosecutor Israel Khan SC concluded his cross-examination of Ansem Griffith, one of the prison officers on trial for the murder of Anton Cooper. Griffith was asked if officers would use a short or long staff during an emergency in the prison (or lockdown period). Griffith responded that it depended on the type of emergency, and denied ever using a long staff. “I have no cause to use it,” said Griffith. Khan then asked why five men were needed to retrieve a prisoner from a holding cell. Griffith responded that it was standard regulations that a cell be opened by more than one officer. Hearing resumes on Tuesday.