Lawyer says police breached her client’s rights

Michaela Ambrose, the lawyer for murder accused Veron Primus said on Tuesday, that her client’s rights were breached when detectives from the United States interviewed him without her present.{{more}}

According to Ambrose, the foreign detectives were informed by Primus that he had a lawyer, but this was ignored and the interview done anyway.

“The right to consult and have his counsel present was denied and ignored by both the police in St Vincent and the foreign detectives. It is a basic legal principle that you have the right to an attorney. This basic principle was circumvented,” said Ambrose.

Ambrose said that Primus’ request to have his lawyer present, goes to the very root of the law and it cannot be curtailed just because the police would like to appear to the public and those outside our jurisdiction that they are doing their jobs.

“You cannot impress police from abroad by ignoring the rights of others. It’s for these reasons that we small islands get a bad name and many matters get dismissed by the courts and lawsuits are filed, all because they want to cut corners. It is unacceptable and I will be making a formal complaint to the Commissioner of Police,” stressed Ambrose.

She said that in her opinion, Primus was purposely interviewed without her, although he stressed that he had a lawyer.

“That is an issue, Major Crimes’ Corporal Duncan was there. I had a right to be informed, much more a right to advise my client beforehand. You cannot allow persons from overseas to override our laws and basic human rights,” said Ambrose.

Primus was originally detained in relation to the kidnapping and detention of Mewanah Hadaway, but was later charged for the November 13, 2015 murder of real estate agent Sharleen Greaves.

Greaves was found stabbed to death at her Bijou Real Estate office in Arnos Vale. Her Suzuki Escudo was found abandoned in the Wilson Hill area and reports are that a search at Primus’ home on Tuesday, April 19, turned up Greaves’ vehicle key.

Primus is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, assault, rape and buggery.

He is being represented by Ambrose and Moureeze Franklyn.