SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Mercia Fraser clenched her fist and fought back tears on Thursday as she listened to guilty verdicts being handed down to three cops more than 10 years after her son, Mario Deane, was brutally and fatally beaten while in police custody. Her legs almost gave out and the tears finally came as she spoke with reporters outside the Westmoreland Circuit Court.

“I can’t even walk. It is just overwhelming. After 10 years and having been there, I had to clench my fist not to really cry. It is a sigh of relief. I feel much lighter, but at the same time after all this, all of the pressure that you go through and everything, it is just overwhelming,” she said.

“I thank God most that He held me that I could keep it out until this time. I don’t know how I would feel if I didn’t stick to the race and do it,” added Fraser, who shared that the journey has been challenging.

Once afraid that Jamaica’s justice system would fail her, she framed Thursday’s guilty verdict as a win for others who are still waiting.

“My God, it is not only Mario who got justice today. I know many more people who have lost their son in this kind of condition really feel a bit of relief,” stated Fraser.

She expressed gratitude to all who provided support over the years, including Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) and the media.

“There are times when I really feel weak, I really feel like I could not make it, but I had promised my son on his deathbed that I would see to it that he gets justice, and today I am grateful that I really stand up to see the end of it,” said Fraser.

She was the first witness to take the stand in the trial that began March 3.

The three cops found guilty are Corporal Elaine Stewart along with district constables Marlon Grant and Juliana Clevon. They have all been convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence and misconduct in a public office. Stewart has an additional conviction of doing acts intended to pervert the course of justice.

On Thursday, after deliberating on the facts presented in the case for just over two hours, the seven-member jury returned a six-to-one guilty verdict on each count.

Stewart and Grant were stone-faced while Clevon hung her head low as the verdict was read and a date announced for sentencing. The three, who are to report to the Area One Police Headquarters in St James twice weekly, are to return to the Westmoreland Circuit Court on July 1 for sentencing.

While the Crown opposed bail on the grounds that they may not return for sentencing, presiding Supreme Court judge, Justice Courtney Daye granted bail for all three.

In a swift reaction on Thursday JFJ — which has been calling for justice in the case that had been delayed for years and whose representatives have been present in court throughout the trial — welcomed the outcome. However, Executive Director Mickel Jackson cited the case an example of shortcomings that need to be addressed.

“What this particular case represents is the deep systematic failure within Jamaica’s justice system where you can have someone being killed or dying in police custody and it takes 11 years for a trial to be concluded,” stated Jackson.

She noted that JFJ is monitoring a number of similar cases, including one in which relatives of an individual who was killed at the hands of the State 25 years ago are still waiting for that matter to be resolved.

In making her argument Jackson also pointed to the lengthy delays in the Mario Deane case before it eventually made it to trial. Issues included insufficient jurors; and summons not being served to potential jurors, resulting in the eventual transfer of the case from St James to Westmoreland.

Jackson said these are issues the State must fix in pursuit of justice.

“JFJ remains resolute in its commitment to advocating for victims of State abuse whose cases have languished for years without closure. We will continue to press for reforms that ensure timely justice, stronger accountability mechanisms, and the protection of every Jamaican’s right to life and dignity,” she assured.