Inquest into Best’s death draws to a close

Coroner Manila Renee is expected to deliver her verdict on March 21 in the inquiry into the 2017 unnatural death of 33-year-old Corey Antonio Best.

Best, of Hopefield, Charnocks, Christ Church was reportedly found hanging on April 13, 2017 while in police custody.

The inquest, which began in November last year, at the Coroner’s Court located at Cane Garden, St Thomas has taken evidence from Best, the deceased’s brother Javan Best, a civilian who was a minor at the time, and several police officers including Inspector Carolyn Blackman-Alleyne.

The inspector had previously given evidence in the inquiry but took the stand again today at the request of the family’s attorney Tristan Elcock.

Under cross examination Black-Alleyne told the court she was not there and therefore “did not support” Angela Best when she reportedly became “overwhelmed” on viewing her son’s body at the police station.

Asked by the attorney whether Best had asked her how her son had “gotten up there in that hanging state  . . . with the use of a chair,” the officer replied: “It did not happen . . . I was not there when she was viewing her son’s body.”

Inspector Blackman-Alleyne who also accompanied Sergeant Leslie Arthur to Best’s home to deliver the news of her son’s death also explained that a section of her statement on the case and that of her colleague Arthur are similarly worded because “It is consistent, that is what happened”.

She again revealed that the deceased’s pair of pants was “folded neatly” at the top of the western part of the boarded bunk in the cell when she and police constable Renaldo Holder went to conduct a condition check on him. The check ascertains through questions, the physical health and wellbeing of a detainee and whether there were any complaints.

The officer explained that it was not strange that the deceased was not wearing pants at the time because, “people take off their clothes . . .” She said if confronted with a similar situation in the future “I would not think it strange [as] there will [need] to be other circumstances and each case is assessed on its merits”.