EIGHT inmates from the Women’s Prison in Arouca are seeking compensation for an alleged beating they said they received in 2015 while held at a dormitory for juveniles.

On Monday, Justice Westmin James began hearing evidence in the eight claims at a hybrid trial. All but three of the women appeared before the judge at the Waterfront Judicial Centre, Port of Spain.

One was on a prison link as she is still incarcerated, another is covid19 positive, and one of the claims was dismissed since one of her attorneys, Gerald Ramdeen, said they were not able to prosecute the claim since they had not been able to contact her to get her instructions.

The women, most of whom were minors at the time of the alleged incident, claimed they were in the north domitory of the women’s prison when, on June 25, 2015, they were attacked by almost 20 prison officers who “stormed” the area they were in.

In their claims, the inmates said they were searched and then kicked, cuffed and beaten with batons. They were then taken to an area known as the “attic” which houses both adult and juvenile inmates.

There were no mattresses in the “attic” and the inmates say they had to sleep on the bare, cold concrete while handcuffed and use a slop pail.

One of the inmates alleged she was cornered in the dining hall after she ran and was made to kneel on a bench while beaten on the head with a baton.

She said she was dragged up a staircase and her brassierre ripped off and called a whore. Each of their claims listed the injuries they allegedly sustained.

In their testimony, the eight denied they were causing a disturbance or were loud and unruly. They said they were complaining about not getting their diet that evening when the alleged attack took place.

The trial continues today when the various prison officers are expected to testify.

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