As investigation into a deadly jailbreak two years ago continues, a security guard who was shot by police during an alleged shootout with one of the escapees is suing the State and claims the police acted recklessly when they shot at and killed Allan “Scanny” Martin.
On July 24, 2015, Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher “Monster” Selby allegedly shot their way out of the Port-of-Spain Prison.
Police officer Sherman Maynard was killed during the incident, while prison officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded. Martin was killed during an alleged shoot-out in a guard booth at the Port of Spain General Hospital and Atwell was murdered after hiding out in Port-of-Spain.
Selby surrendered to officers at the Barataria Police Station two days later and was charged with ten offenses including Maynard’s murder.
Anita Bartholomew, 38, a security guard with Amalgamated Security assigned to the Port of Spain General Hospital, who was shot in the right hand claims in her lawsuit that the police used excessive force.
She claims as a result she was suffering psychological trauma.
In a June 23 pre-action protocol letter to Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, Bartholomew’s attorneys Reynold Waldropt, Jeron Joseph and Tim Charriandy, say their client was the last of her colleagues in the guard booth when Martin barged in. She claims that Martin had no gun when he held her in front of him as a shield.
She said police surrounded the booth and opened fire, killing Martin.
Bartholomew was shot in the right hand and was warded for four days. She was referred to the Psychiatric Department after she had problems sleeping and was ler diagnosed with acute stress disorder.
Bartholomew’s lawyers said: “Since that incident she has had nightmares and has become fearful, stressed out, depressed and withdrawn.
“Whenever she sees police officers carrying guns she relives the entire ordeal. She has had to seek professional help for her mental condition.
“She has sought the professional services of Dr Ian Hypolite, a consultant psychiatrist who in a report dated May 14, 2016, was of the professional opinion that Bartholomew was and is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of her experiencing a life threatening incident.”
Bartholomew, who has not returned to work since the incident, is seeking aggravated and or exemplary damages, compensation for the injuries and pain and suffering as well as emotional mental distress she suffered.
She is also seeking special damages for medical expenses, loss of earnings and other expenses as a result, legal costs and any other costs the court deems necessary.
The letter gives the State seven days to confirm receipt and three days to respond.
Three prison officers suspended as a result of the prison break will appear before a disciplinary tribunal to tell their sides of the story from next week.
Acting Superintendent of Prisons Wilbert Lovell is scheduled to testify on July 6, while Prison Officers II Lancelot Duntin and Mervin Pierre are expected to testify on July 13 and 18 respectively. Lovell, Duntin and Pierre have all been on suspension since August 2, 2015.
