FORMER deputy spokesman on justice for the Jamaica Labour Party Harold Malcolm says 13 years after his brother, Winston Malcolm, and nephew were killed in an incident involving the police, his family continues to suffer as charges are yet to be laid despite the Coroner's Court giving the go-ahead in 2015.
Malcolm broke down during a forum hosted by human rights advocacy group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) yesterday, calling for legislative reform to allow the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to initiate prosecutorial proceedings as part of its mandate.
“But that is the prerogative of the DPP's office, so the matter was sent to the Coroner's Court... After several months, we got a ruling from the Coroner's Court that these two police officers should be charged... and the judge sent the verdict of the jury to the DPP.
Malcolm said he is hopeful that Prime Minister Andrew Holness will use his office to make some real changes in the justice system, in order to hold police officers accountable.
JFJ contended that without the basic powers of being able to initiate proceedings similar to the police, the police itself would have to agree to charge and arrest themselves, secure court dates for, and bring their own officers to court.
