‘Big time police lapse’ causes youth to be freed in High Court

Shoddy police investigations on Tuesday, March 12, caused a man to walk free of a motor manslaughter charge at the High Court.{{more}}

The prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Colin John, was forced to withdraw the six-year-old charge against Cauldric David after a crucial part of the prosecution’s case was not presented.

David was charged with causing the death of Redemption Sharpes van driver Keno Mayers, on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, in the vicinity of the Villa Lodge Hotel.

Mayers, 31, died of severe head injuries after the Toyota Rav 4 vehicle which David was driving, struck the deceased while he was walking along the Villa public road at about 8:15 a.m.

David’s jeep collided with another vehicle, PN 141, owned by Anthony Marks, then struck Mayers who was thrown into the air before dropping a short distance away.

He died on the spot.

David was, at the time, a student of the St Vincent Community College. Two other college students, Sheena Clouden and Felicia Mckee, both of Union Island, were occupants of David’s vehicle.

They were on their way to school.

During the court hearing on Monday, March 11, lead investigator Sergeant Garfield Thomas told the court that there was no vehicle examiner’s report in the file.

Presiding judge, Frederick Bruce-Lyle asked the officer if he was sure that there were no such reports, at which time Thomas said he could not recall seeing such a report.

The following day, the prosecution conceded the matter.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Assistant DPP John said no police mechanic assessed the vehicle to ascertain whether the vehicle had mechanical failure.

“As a result of that, we couldn’t prove that the accident wasn’t caused by mechanical failure…,” John said.

One of the girls said he was trying to stop the vehicle, trying to get it under control, John said.

The Assistant DPP said the police made a “big time lapse”, in that “nobody” from the police went to check the vehicle.

In the testimony of Felicia McKie, she said she told David to “slow down” at one point and noted that he was trying to “gain” control of the vehicle before it crashed.

David was represented by Queen’s Counsel, Carlyle Dougan. (KW)