.png)
Mercia Fraser, the mother of Mario Deane, was at the Westmoreland Circuit Court on Thursday, May 22, to witness the conviction of three police officers charged in connection with a 2014 killing of her son.
She sat down with Radio Jamaica's Dionne Jackson Miller for an in-depth interview about the ordeal of the last 10 years and the moment the verdict was handed down.
"You're hearing the verdict read out now, what you thinking? How you reacting?" Jackson Miller asked.
"It's like a tremor going through yuh body, like a shockwave going through you, cause mi say, 'Oh my God, oh my God, it really happen! It really happen! You know that moment, that moment when your football team score and that excitement going through your body? It's that excitement," Ms. Fraser recounted.
While she acknowledged that the verdict won't bring her son back, she celebrated that justice had been served.
"Foolishness cause this is to happen. Mario gone for good. And now you're going to prison, and then [the cops] were crying and I'm like, I didn't even want to hear the sound because I'm going to feel sorry. I'm going to feel sorry for them."
The mother recalled being weak in the knees when she walked out of the courtroom following the verdict.
"It take me a two day [to recover] because even the following day you have that weakness going through, still that feeling, you know. It takes some time to get around, and I'm like, it's really over. Mario really getting justice."
Asked whether she would be bothered if the convicted cops appeal, Ms. Fraser was measured in her response.
"No. Not going to let anything bother me. It's their right to appeal and, you know, there's no way I can fight against it.... I wouldn't want it to happen that we have to go through it again, you know. I would want to have to go through that moment again. But it's their right. But for it to reach this far, I am grateful."
Mario Deane died on August 6, 2014, three days after he was beaten while in police custody at the Barnett Street Police lock-up in St. James.
District Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant and Corporal Elaine Stewart were found guilty on all counts, including manslaughter and misconduct in a public office.
Corporal Stewart was found guilty on an additional count of intent to pervert the course of justice.
All feeds
