Prison officer’s sedition trial to continue in October

The prosecution and defence in the sedition case against the president of the Prison Officers Association are to make closing arguments in a month’s time in a bid to convince the court to rule in their favour.

Those submissions in Trevor Browne’s case will be made on October 6 before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

The prison officer is on trial on four charges which include inciting mutiny or sedition at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds.

Browne, who is represented by Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, is charged that between May 1 and May 9, 2018 he urged fellow prison officers David Davis, Ophneal Austin, Shanell Ellis-Vaughn and Stephenson Trotman to abandon their duties.

Before the adjournment was given on Tuesday, Browne maintained that he did not seduce any of his colleagues to commit the acts levelled against him.

During Inspector Janice Ifill’s cross-examination he stated: “I did not, sir” when he was challenged on the charges.