Naked prisoner found dead in jail

Yesterday, two prison officers — Devindra Ramdial, and Ansen Griffith went on trial before Justice Malcolm Holdip in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court charged with Cooper’s murder. It is alleged that they murdered Cooper sometime between June 24 and June 27, 2001 at the prison.

A 12-member jury and three alternates were empanelled on Monday. When the case was called yesterday, Israel Khan SC turned up, not as a defence attorney, but the lead prosecutor. He had been retained on Wednesday to lead State attorneys Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Tricia Hudlin.

In his opening address, Khan said the State contends that on June 25, 2001, a young, healthy and vibrant man, Anton Cooper, was taken by the police to the remand prison at Golden Grove. Cooper, according to Khan, had been arrested on a warrant for not appearing in court on a matter a year before.

Khan said that less than 24 hours later, Cooper was found dead in a cell. The cause of death was asphyxia associated with blunt force injuries. The State contends that Ramdial, a senior prison officer in charge of the night shift, together with Griffith and other officers, inflicted the injuries which caused the death of the young man.

Khan pointed out that after Cooper entered the prison, he was moved from different cells. He was placed in cell number 12, the lower south wing. There is a long corridor with cells on either side. One end of the corridor was called the Shallow and the other end, the Deep.

Khan was unable to say why these places were called the Shallow and the Deep, but he noted that it had to do with water.

"Anton Cooper was placed in the Deep, a noise was heard, there was banging and bawling. Several prison officers with batons came down to the Deep. Among them were the two accused. Cooper was taken out of his cell and ordered to walk through a gate to the Shallow."

Khan said Ramdial struck Cooper in the chest with a baton. Cooper stood up and refused to walk. Cooper was ordered into a bathroom near the gate. After entering the bathroom, he ran back to the Deep and other officers ran after him. This was about seven to eight o’clock in the night, according to the lead prosecutor.

Khan said bawling was heard from the Deep. Cooper was brought back to the bathroom by accused Griffith. He was again beaten by Griffith and other officers in the presence of the other accused Ramdial.

"When he was being beaten, the senior officer called them, telling them to go easy on the man. This is very important evidence because number one accused (Ramdial) was acting in concert with the beaters. He never stopped them. The shower was turned on Cooper. He walked to the entrance to the Shallow, he was brought back to the bathroom and told to bathe again."

According to Khan, Cooper was trembling. "It is not clear whether he was just bathing, or was there to wash off the blood, or to be revived."

Khan said Ramdial went to a prisoner, a witness in this case, and told him, "remember what you see here, let it stay here; you didn’t see anything." Ramdial then left. The prisoner did not answer the officer.

Khan said around six o’clock the following morning, prison officers found Cooper dead in cell 22. He was lying naked in faeces. The prison authorities began their investigations. Ramdial went back to the prisoner, saying he (Ramdial) will drop something for him. Khan said Ramdial offered the prisoner an extra bath, or a lime in the corridor.

"Taking an extra bath is a privilege, a lime in the corridor is a privilege," Khan told the jury.

On August 18, 2002, Sgt Hendron Moses went to Ramdial’s home, identified himself, and told him that ASP Gregory Correia was investigating the death of Anton Cooper. Moses told Ramdial that Correia was in possession of a warrant. Ramdial was cautioned and informed of his rights, to which Ramdial replied, "me alone?"

Khan said a prisoner Barry Moore Briggs has convictions for serious offences. "You will have the opportunity to hear him and test his credibility. This was in a prison, who you expect to be your witnesses, a priest, a pundit, a lawyer, except that he was in jail?" Briggs has served his term, he is a free man.

Khan said Ramdial wanted to know what Briggs had told the Superintendent of Prisons. Briggs said nothing, he saw nothing.

The police investigated the incident and in 2002, Ramdial and Griffith were arrested. Khan said in this case, there are two eye-see witnesses, two prisoners who saw the two accused beating Cooper. He said there was also circumstantial evidence that the two accused took Cooper to the bathroom, and he was bawling.

Khan said there was also scientific evidence. He said the court would hear from pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes who performed the autopsy, that the cause of death was due to blunt force injuries, which caused his blood to leave Cooper’s stomach and suffocate him to death.

"Anton Cooper was under the protection of the State. The remand warrant was to take Cooper’s body to prison and keep him safe and good, and return him to court on a petty charge. The onus is on the prosecution to prove that the two accused are guilty. One you believe the prisoner, and although he is a no-good and you are satisfied that he is speaking the truth, your duty is to convict the accused. If you believe in your heart that they beat the prisoner to death, it is your duty to convict them," Khan told the jury.

Seven witnesses were called by the prosecution before the adjournment was taken.

Rhonda Kernahan, Cooper’s sister of Sixth Company Village, Princes Town, last saw her brother alive on June 21, 2001. She went to the Forensic Science Centre on June 28, 2001, identified her brother’s body to Dr Des Vignes.

Claudie Cooper, uncle of the victim, also went to the Forensic Science Centre.

Corporal Dennis Smith, a police photographer, now retired, went to the Golden Grove Prison on June 26, 2001 and took three photographs which were tendered into evidence and shown to the jury.

PC Darryl Dedier, another police photographer, went to the Golden Grove Prison on September 5, 2002, and took eight photographs which were admitted into evidence and shown to the jury.

Cpl Glen Payne was stationed at Arouca at the time of the incident. He received certain information and went to the prison on June 26, 2001. He met Prison Officer Roachford and another prison officer named Murray. He was taken to a wing in the prison. He went to a cell where he saw the body of a man lying face downwards. He contacted the District Medical Officer and the police photographer. Two days later, he went to the Forensic Science Centre and witnessed a post-mortem being done by Dr Des Vignes.

Cpl Albert Lewis, now retired, was in charge of prison transport from San Fernando to Golden Grove on June 25, 2001. He transported a number of prisoners including Cooper. He reached Golden Grove at 5.15 p.m and handed over all prisoners to the prison officers on duty. According to Lewis, Cooper was normal and in good physical condition.

He pointed out that if a prisoner was not in good physical condition, the prison will not accept him.

PC Gregory Hood, police draughtsman, was the final witness. He drew a plan of the cell block area where Cooper’s body was found.

Hearing resumes this morning.