Dominican police officer charged with murder
The head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Superintendent Matthew Cuffy, has been released on EC$150,000 (One EC dollar=US $0.37) after he appeared in court charged with the death of a 36-year-old man while in police custody earlier this year.
Cuffy appeared before Magistrate Pearl Williams Thursday on the murder charge laid by acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Valentine, alleging that he had murdered Kerwin “Slobby” Prosper on February 15, 2021.
Trinidad-based attorney, Keith Scotland, leads the prosecution team. At the same time, Gina Dyer Munro and Zena Moore Dyer represent the accused in the matter, which has since been adjourned to November 18 of this year.
The parties are to make disclosures in the case on or before October 18, 2021.
The High Court granted bail to the senior police officer, surrendered his travel documents and sought the court’s permission before travelling.
Earlier this month, Prosper’s family filed a civil lawsuit against three police officers and the island’s Attorney General arising out of the death.
The lawsuit has been filed against Cuffy, Corporal Bartholomew Nichols, and Constable Daniel Ormond, the Attorney General, who is Dominica’s Chief Legal Advisor.
The relatives said that Prosper appeared “healthy, strong and vitalized” before his arrest. He was transported to the Grand Bay Police station, south of here, where police officers severely beat him in breach of his constitutional rights.
They further argued that Prosper was then taken to the holding cells at the Roseau Police station, and whilst in custody on the morning of Monday, February 15, he complained of chest pains and was transported to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH), where he was examined.
The family is seeking general damages for the fatality and pain and suffering, special damages for funeral expenses and loss of monies allegedly seized by the police, cost, damage for detinue, interest, and further or other relief as the court deems fit.
A High Court Judge had also dismissed an application for judicial review filed by the three police officers under investigation for Prosper’s death.
In her ruling on July 5, Justice Bernie Stephenson said that the applicant’s application for judicial review was not granted on the ground that the Court finds that it is in the public’s interest for the investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of Prosper to continue.
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