DEATH SQUAD TRIAL Cop refused to participate in ID parade

THE SO-CALLED police death squad trial on Tuesday heard testimony that one of the policemen accused of killing a Clarendon man in 2010 refused to participate in an identification parade.

Sergeant Roger Kelly, who was assigned to the Police Visual ID unit at the time, testified that Corporal Roan Morrison informed him of his decision as he was about to conduct an identification parade at the Grants Pen Police Station in St Andrew on July 11, 2014.

“As a result, Kelly said he opted to have the main prosecution witness face Morrison in what he described as a confrontation identification parade instead of a more conventional one.

“It means that the person for whom the identification parade is being conducted has refused to participate in any formal parade which would result in the witness being taken to directly confront them,” he explained in the Home Circuit Court.

The police sergeant testified that Morrison was placed in a cell with four other men who were in custody at the time and the main prosecution witness summoned to the cell door.

He said in the presence of a justice of the peace and another police sergeant the main witness “pointed at Mr Morrison and said him inna the white Tshirt and grey sweat pants”.

“Did Mr Morrison say anything?” asked lead prosecutor Ann-Marie Feurtado Richards, who led Kelly through his evidence. “No, madam,” he replied. Morrison and Constable Collis Brown are on trial for murder and wounding with intent. They were charged by the Independent Commission of Investigations following a shooting incident on February 13, 2010 in which Phaebian Dinnal, 20, was killed and another man wounded.

Sergeant Kelly said he explained to Morrison why he opted for a confrontation parade and told him that “notwithstanding the fact that he was not participating I will ensure that the process is conducted fairly”.

Responding to the policeman’s lead attorney Vincent Wellesley, Sergeant Kelly said he also advised Morrison that arrangements could be made for another form of identification parade if he changed his mind about participating in the process.