Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday concluded the preliminary inquiry into the manslaughter case for the two ex-prison officers Kurt Corbin and Gladwin Samuels who allegedly caused the death of prisoner Edwin Niles.

The magistrate declared that a prima-facie case had been established against the two accused for the indictable offence of manslaughter. She said there is sufficient evidence for the accused to stand trial in the High Court during the April session.

The joint charge was re-read to the accused and both men, when asked if they had anything to say, declared that they are innocent of the charge.

The magistrate enquired from the accused if they wanted to recall any witnesses and both said they will reserve it for the High Court.

Corbin, 30, of N 27 George Avenue, Lamaha Springs, and Samuels, 26, of 89 Oronoque Street, Bourda, who were both Assistant Superintendents at the Georgetown Prison on Camp Street, made their first court appearance on Friday, September 19, 2008, and were not required to plead to the indictable offence of manslaughter.

The case against the ex-prison officers say that on July 3, 2008, Niles and some other inmates were assigned outside duties at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, when, upon his return to the Camp Street jail, he was found with .22 rounds of ammunition on his person. Later the same day, the now dead prisoner was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital with a broken arm and second and third degree burns to his shoulder, back and buttocks. He died on July 11, and his relatives had urged that justice be served.

The result of a post mortem revealed that the prisoner, who was serving time in jail for marijuana, died from a clot in the lungs due to burns about his back.
It is alleged that Niles sustained the burns and other injuries while being grilled about the ammunition found on his person.