Prosecutor: Escapee ‘walked out’ of cell ‘just so’

It is the State’s case that after being arrested and placed in a cell at a police station, Akeem Ricardo Griffith unlocked it and walked out.

Principal State Counsel Joyann Catwell told this to a nine-member jury in the No. 4A Supreme Court as the trial of the alleged escapee got underway.

Griffith, of Montrose, Silver Hill, Christ Church, has denied that on December 4, 2022, being a person in lawful custody having been arrested for the offence of robbery, he did escape without the use of force.

In her opening statement, Catwell said the accused had been arrested and taken into custody as a result of a robbery investigation.

“He was held in custody at District ‘B’ Police Station in Boarded Hall and was placed in a cell awaiting investigations into the robbery matter. While there, he unlocked the cell and walked out. Just so. There was no force and he escaped from police custody.

“He may say that police told him to ‘guh long’. He may say that the door wasn’t locked. He may say that he wasn’t placed in a cell. He may say that he was placed on a bench and not into a cell. Look out for excuses, but ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I implore you to listen to the facts and pay attention to the evidence in this court and at the end of your deliberations you will find the accused guilty of the offence for which he stands indicted,” the prosecutor stated.

She further advised the jurors to make their decision without bias or prejudice and warned them to stay away from gossip.

“We live in a small society, and we hear and read many things. When you sit as jurors, you must leave all of the gossip and all other extraneous matters out of your deliberations . . . . You are reminded that all of you have taken an oath and duty requires that you return a verdict in accordance with the oath which you have taken. Integrity is the hallmark of your service,” she stressed.

Griffith is self-represented. Madam Justice Wanda Blair presides.