WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The presiding judge in the Mario Deane case, Supreme Court Justice Courtney Daye, has reiterated calls for both traditional and social media to exercise care in their coverage of the matter.

“The media should exercise care also in putting out the names of witnesses and the names of other parties, including prosecutors. The defence may not mind, but the names of the parties are something that care should be executed with,” stated Justice Daye at the end of Tuesday’s sitting of the case in the Westmoreland Circuit Court.

The judge added that there was also an issue with witnesses speaking to the media while the case was ongoing.

“There is a concern about witnesses who have given evidence [and are] giving interviews to the media after they have given evidence. And, the concern would be that the witnesses may comment… that can sometimes lead to matters that can be prejudicial in the conduct of evidence on either side by the prosecution or the defence,” stated Justice Daye.

“So, the policy is that the media should exercise care in interviews given by witnesses during the trial. So, that is the concern as part of case management for the media,” added Justice Daye, who was quick to point out that the guidelines are not in response to any actual complaints of breaches.

Guidelines were first outlined for the media by Justice Daye during a case management hearing in the Westmoreland Circuit Court on February 21.

Justice Daye also doubled down on a distinction he made about non-traditional media’s— specifically social media’s— coverage of the case, as previously outlined in February as part of the housekeeping matters.

“I said I don’t know how to deal with social media,” stated Justice Daye, who added, “A lot of commentaries are made and opinions expressed by social media that could be prejudicial to one side or the other. And, the judge has a duty to ensure that the trial is conducted fairly to all the parties.”

Three officers are currently on trial in the case. They are Corporal Elaine Stewart, and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant. They are all charged with manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, and misconduct in a public office.

The allegations are that Deane was arrested for possession of a ganja spliff and placed in custody, where he was brutally beaten on August 3, 2014. Deane received severe injuries to his brain, which left him in a coma. He died three days later at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

It is alleged that the three cops were on duty at the police station at the time when Deane was beaten. It is further alleged that Corporal Stewart instructed that the cell in which the attack took place be cleaned before the arrival of investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations.

The case is expected to resume from adjournment on Thursday at 10:00 am.

— Anthony Lewis