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Lockup deaths indicative of inhuman conditions - attorney

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INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner and Attorney-at-law Clive Munroe Jr.
 
Attorney at law Clive Munroe Junior believes the recent deaths in lockups are indicative of the deplorable conditions which inmates and correctional officers contend with.
 
The Independent Commission of Investigations [INDECOM] confirmed that it is probing three incidents in which detainees died while in custody over the last week.
 
INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner, speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Sunday, said two of the detainees died while being held at the Half-Way Tree police lockup in St Andrew, in the space of three days.
 
David Satchell, 59, was found unresponsive in his cell on September 23, whereupon he was taken to Kingston Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
 
Then, on September 27, the other detainee, Donovan Phillips, 68, "was observed to be in distress in his cell," Mr Faulkner, disclosed. 
 
He too was taken to Kingston Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
 
Attorney Clive Munroe, responding Sunday on Radio Jamaica's That's a Rap, said there is an urgent need for improvements to the infrastructure of lock-ups and prisons.  
 
He said the issue of inhuman prison conditions was highlighted in the recent appeal case of dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer).
 
The attorney also voiced concern that correctional officers are also subject to the same dehumanizing conditions.
 
He said the stench emanating from some of these facilities is an indication of subhuman conditions being experienced by detainees.
 
Mr Faulkner revealed the third detainee to have died was Patrick Perry.
 
Mr Perry was remanded by the court on September 21 and was being held at the Buff Bay police station in Portland where he was assaulted.
 
Mr Perry was "severely wounded” and taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital in neighbouring St. Mary and later transferred to Kingston Public Hospital, where he died.
 
 


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