A POLICE officer has been directed by the High Court to pay $130,000 to compensate a man from Maracas, St Joseph, he beat while the man was arguing with his mother at their property in 2020.
The officer was off-duty at the time and was part of a group who went to the property that belonged to Anton Licorish, his sister and their parents, to continue a “lime” they had been at earlier in the day.
The beating took place as Licorish was arguing with his mother, who refused to allow the party-goers to continue liming at her residence.
Ordering PC Jervon Ramie to make the payment yesterday was Justice Frank Seepersad at the conclusion of a two-day trial.
Licorish brought the claim against Ramie as well as the Office of the Attorney General as he sought compensation for assault and battery.
Licorish claimed that the State was liable for Ramie’s actions since he identified himself as a police officer before the attack.
However, Justice Seepersad disagreed with the contention and instead found that Ramie was “acting on a frolic of his own”.
“Taxpayers ought not bear the financial responsibility for the errant and unjustified actions of a police officer,” Justice Seepersad stated in delivering his ruling.
The evidence in the case was that earlier that night, Licorish and several of his friends were in attendance at a birthday party at his neighbour’s home.
After the party ended, Licorish, his friends and Ramie went to Licorish’s home.
Licorish did not know Ramie but the officer was invited to Licorish’s home by one of his friends.
It was stated that Licorish’s father Anthony told his son he could not allow the lime to take place as they had a guest staying in their annex, which they periodically rented on international online short rental service Airbnb.
Licorish then went to the kitchen to speak to his mother Katherine but she too denied his request to have the lime continue at the family’s property.
During the course of the argument between mother and son, the woman lifted her hand to hit Licorish and he raised his voice.
He admitted that he grabbed her hand causing the beer bottle in his other hand to fall and shatter.
It was then that Ramie, who was in another room of the house intervened, grabbed him by the neck and shoved him towards the glass door, leading from the kitchen to outside, causing it to shatter.
The officer left the property for a short space of time but soon returned with a baton and began beating Licorish about his body and head.
In upholding Licorish’s case, Justice Seepersad said he believed Licorish’s version of the events, which was corroborated by his parents.
Credibility of evidence
The judge took issue with the credibility of Ramie’s evidence, pointing out that even though he claimed he had only gotten involved because Licorish was holding his mother in a headlock and threatening her with a broken bottle, he made no such allegations when he gave a statement to other officers who responded to the scene.
“It was more probable than not if the claimant was the aggressor, he (Ramie) would have made a report and effected an arrest,” Justice Seepersad said.
Justice Seepersad said it was evident that Ramie had anger issues based on his conduct in beating Licorish with the baton, which was captured on CCTV cameras from the house.
“He was impetuous, inexperienced and had a propensity to be somewhat aggressive,” said the judge, suggesting that the case demonstrated the need for the TTPS to introduce psychometric testing for recruits and periodic psychological assessments for serving officers.
“There is really a need for professional and measured responses by persons entrusted with authority to protect and serve. The TTPS has an obligation that the persons who act on their behalf do so in a responsible and reasonable manner. Decisive action and not simply prayer is required,” said the judge.
Attorneys Kiev Chesney and Chelsea Stewart-Chesney argued the case for Licorish while Ramie was represented by Gerard Gray.
Attorney Rachel Jacob appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.
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