WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The trial of the three cops charged in the incident in which construction worker Mario Deane was fatally beaten while in police custody in 2014, has been delayed due to one of the seven-member jury being ill.

The defence team was expected to start its summation of the case to the jury in the Westmoreland Circuit Court on Wednesday. However, after waiting almost two hours for the start of court, at approximately 10:55 am, Supreme Court Judge Justice Courtney Daye arrived from his chamber and delivered the news.

Justice Daye told the court that the juror had a medical emergency and would not be available before Monday, May 19.

On Tuesday, the Crown rested from two days of summation to the jury. Following the defence presentation next week, Justice Daye is expected to make his summation before the jury is allowed to deliberate in deciding on the case.

The three accused are Corporal Elaine Stewart and district constables Marlon Grant and Juliana Clevon, all of whom are charged with manslaughter and misconduct in a public office.

The allegations in the case are that Deane was arrested for possession of a ganja spliff and placed in custody, where he was brutally beaten on August 3, 2014. He sustained 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 when Deane was beaten. It is further alleged that Stewart, who has an additional charge of perverting the course of justice, 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 was adjourned until Monday at 9:00 am.

-Anthony Lewis