(CMR) The findings from Jamaica's police watchdog group's latest quarterly report has left many Jamaicans stunned.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) shared its quarterly report on Wednesday which highlighted the case of an 81-year-old man who died in state lock-up after about four decades in custody without a trial.
What's worse is that 81-year-old Noel Chambers died in a deplorable condition with the report revealing that at the time of his death he was covered with what appeared to be vermin bites, live bedbugs (‘chink’)and he showed signs of having bed sores.
According to INDECOM's report, Chambers was incarcerated on February 4, 1980, and was initially charged with murder.
The report further highlighted that there was confusion over if Chambers was ever convicted as he was described as “unfit to plead”.
The Commissioner of Corrections in his report to INDECOM states that “NoelChambers was tried and convicted in the Home CircuitCourt on February 4, 1980 for the offence of murder. He was deemed unfit to plead and was held at the GovernorGeneral’s Pleasure,” read the report.
“However, in the Commissions' respectful opinion he could not have been unfit to plead and convicted. Indeed, his commitment document by theHome Circuit Court has the words ‘guilty of’ struck out and replaced with ‘unfit to plead’,” added the report.
The report further revealed that Chambers ultimately died from acute pyelonephritis”a sudden and severe kidney infection”.
Chambers' last court appearance was April 2, 1980, and was last assessed on December 28, 2016.
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