Pathology Prof: I give evidence for the dead, nobody else

Daisley, a defence witness, was recalled for cross-examination by State attorney Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo in the murder trial of prison officers Devindra Ramdial and Ansen Griffith.

Daisley’s time in the witness box was spent explaining medical terms. He told the jury that he did not get the opportunity to witness the post-mortem performed on prisoner Anton Cooper, who was found dead at the Remand Section of the Golden Grove Prison on June 26, 2001.

"I don’t know how this prisoner died," Daisley told the court. "Any suggestion would be based on previous experiences or published material. I don’t know how the man died."

Daisley, a lecturer in pathology at the University of the West Indies, said he never worked at the Forensic Science Centre where all post-mortems relating to murders are conducted. He said he carried out post-mortems at the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) relating to motor vehicle accidents, suicides, natural deaths and unexplained deaths.

Prison Officer Griffith called a second witness — prison infirmary officer Neil Bhaggan — who has more than 14 years in the Prison Service. On June 25, 2001, he was attached to the infirmary of Golden Grove Prison. He said at about 8.30 pm of that day, an inmate whom he identified as Anton Cooper was brought to the infirmary by prison officers Renwrick Kalloo and Wayne Phillip. After speaking to Kalloo, Bhaggan said he then spoke to Cooper.

"I did not understand clearly what he was saying. He was mumbling. He was ducking and hiding. He was trying to hide behind a wall as if someone was chasing him. I tried to get him to sit down so I could talk to him. I was successful, I did speak to him," Bhaggan said.

Bhaggan said he saw a laceration above Cooper’s eye and an abrasion below the knee. He dressed the wounds and gave him an injection. He gave Cooper the injection because the prisoner was nervous and hiding. The prescribed medication was given to him to calm him down, the witness told the court.

Bhaggan then handed the prisoner over to the prison officers. The next day at about 6.20 am, Bhaggan accompanied the officer in charge, Harrylal Baboolal, to cell number 22 in the "shallow." He took a pair of gloves and some smelling salts with him.

When he arrived in the cell, he saw Cooper lying on the ground. "I called out to him, but there was no response. I placed my hand on his hand to check for a pulse. There was none. I checked under his neck and there was none. I placed my hand near his nose to see if there was any hot air, but there was none. I stayed there for a minute or two and then I left."

Under cross-examination by lead prosecutor Israel Khan SC, Bhaggan said the injury to Cooper’s face was below the eye and not above as he stated earlier. He also revealed that he was not certified to administer injections.

"I got permission to do so from the prison medical officer. The medical officer is not always at the prison, he does not need to be there. I agree that the right procedure is for the medical officer to be present, that is the right procedure. His name is Dr Cyril Paltoo."

Bhaggan admitted that he did not consult with anyone before administering the injection to Cooper that night.

Further questioned by Khan, Bhaggan said when Cooper came to the infirmary, he was dressed in a jersey and "three-quarter" pants. He said the deep wound on Cooper’s face could have required stitches.

He said blood was pouring from the prisoner’s face. He said he treated the cut with a plaster. He said he asked Cooper to raise his jersey, but he did not see any injuries.

Bhaggan said when he went to the cell the next morning, Cooper was naked and there were no signs of his clothes.

Under further cross-examination, Bhaggan said he treated other prisoners on June 25, 2001. Whenever he treated prisoners, he wrote the information in a book. He has not seen that book since, however, as it was handed over to Supt Peterson Lambert and replaced with new books.

Bhaggan said when inmates are sent to the prison by the police and they complain about beatings, he would see them. On the day in question, he did not see Cooper at 4 pm, but he saw two other inmates for injuries sustained.

At the end of Bhaggan’s evidence, Griffith’s attorney Gilbert Peterson SC closed the case. Khan renewed his application for the court to visit the Golden Grove Prison. After submissions in the absence of the jury, Justice Malcolm Holdip denied the request.

None of the lawyers in the case addressed the jury, leaving the case in the hands of the judge to sum up.

Holdip indicated to the jury that he needed time to prepare his final address which he plans to do tomorrow morning at 9.30 am. Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier paid a surprise visit to the proceedings yesterday.