CRIME Chief Leslie James was up to yesterday perusing the file pertaining to the Colwyn Harding case. The file was sent to the Crime Chief just after lunch on Wednesday by Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, (Rt’d) Justice Cecil Kennard, and both officials have confirmed this.

Justice Kennard said he really hopes the file does not have to return to him for any other deliberation.

In an interview with the Chronicle, Kennard said that additional statements presented to him really helped to clear up all the other questions being asked.
The statements which were requested and added to the file have served to cover all the areas that needed covering, he said.

The journey of the file includes its sending from the PCA office to the Crime Chief, then to the Police Commissioner, who will then forward it to the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Justice Kennard said he recommended in the report that criminal charges be laid against two of the police ranks in the matter, while four others, including senior ranks, are to be disciplined departmentally.

Kennard said the matter has been engaging the attention of the various offices since November of last year, and it is about time the matter be sent to the court, or action which has to be taken at the various levels be served.

Colwyn Harding was reportedly raped with a baton by a police officer while he was in custody, and ill-treated by other ranks of the Timehri Police Station where he was being detained at the time.

There has been much unease in society with respect to the investigations into the Colwyn Harding matter, causing many to suggest that the police are taking their very own time in investigating their own.

(By Leroy Smith)