MONTEGO BAY, St James — The mother of Mario Deane yesterday asked National Security Minister Peter Bunting and others not to use her son’s death as a political football.

Mercia Frazer made the request during a private visit by Bunting, Member of Parliament for Central St James Lloyd B Smith, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Area 4 Warren Clarke, and Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the St James Division Egbert Parkins yesterday at Rosemount in St James.

Deane, 31, died on August 6, three days after he was severely beaten while in police custody at the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay. He had been arrested for possession of a marijuana joint.

Speaking to journalists in Montego Bay yesterday, a sedate-looking Bunting said he had given assurances to Frazer and other family members that Deane’s death would not be used politically and he also asked for all Jamaicans to adhere to and honour the wishes of the grieving mother.

The national security minister also said that Frazer had requested, and he gave her his commitment, that a complete review would be done into how people are arrested, placed and kept in custody while awaiting charges to be made or waiting to face the courts.