Killer claims prison officers beat him up

MICHAEL BULLOCK, a convicted murderer for the 1979 Cotton Hill murders, has taken eight prison officers to court charging that they severely beat him at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) at Golden Grove, Arouca, two months ago.

Bullock, 42, claimed his jaw was broken and he suffered injuries to his head, chest, back, legs and face. He named the eight prison officers, among them a Supt at the MSP, in a writ filed on his behalf, claiming assault and battery. Bullock has been at the MSP for the past 23 years, having been sentenced to death. On Monday, attorneys Mark Seepersad, instructed by Gerald Ramdeen, filed the action claiming that on June 3, Bullock was in the prison’s courtyard when Prison Officer (PO) Joefield requested him to open his shirt pocket. He (Bullock) plucked out a note which Joefield snatched. It was torn into pieces and according to the writ, Bullock was taken into a cell block.

In the writ, Bullock claimed he was beaten by Joefield. He also claimed that another officer, Charles, also joined in with a baton, striking Bullock in the jaw and causing blood to flow. Bullock stated that he retaliated by biting Joefield. He added that officer Persad “cuffed” him in the face and choked him. Bullock stated that he was beaten with a baton about his back as PO Charles clutched him around the neck. Bullock said that he was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered a broken jaw.  He also stated that he has since been placed in solitary confinement and fed a diet of rice water. The convicted murderer is claiming negligence on the part of the Prison Authorities. Persons named in the writ are the Attorney General, Commissioner of Prisons, Prison Superintendent Joseph Nassiah and Prisons Officers who included Charles, Aleem, Rahaman, Mahabir, Harrilal, Baboolal, Joefield and Persad.