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Inmate’s death…
Senior prison officers charged with manslaughter
– granted $500,000 bail
Senior prison officers Kurt Corbin, 30, and Gladwin Samuels, 26, were yesterday charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of inmate Edwin Niles.
The duo was read the charge by acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that the two, on July 11 2008, killed Edwin Niles who was an inmate at the Georgetown Prisons.
The two defendants both hold the rank of Assistant Superintendent. They were represented by attorney-at-law Huckumchand.
In a bail application, Huckumchand told the court that Corbin is married and is the father of two children. The lawyer said that Corbin is the sole breadwinner of his family. He further noted that his client is currently pursuing a degree at the University of Guyana.
According to the attorney, his client has a “promising future”, and was sent by the Prison Service on many courses.
The lawyer added that Corbin has an unblemished record, and does not pose a flight risk. Huckumchand said that Corbin and Samuels both know the law, and he can safely say they will return to the court.
In also requesting bail for Samuels, the attorney said that his client shares a common-law relationship and has a Diploma in Social Work.
He further stated that Samuels was sent on several courses, which were all sponsored by the Prison system.
The lawyer emphasized that his clients are ardent church goers, who are “God fearing” people. With all that is being laid on the table, he then asked that bail be granted at a reasonable sum.
Prison officers in support of their two colleagues
The prosecution, which was headed by police prosecutor Denise Griffith, did not oppose bail, which was then granted in the sum of $500,000 each. Niles’s mother, Brenda Welcome-Nurse, was present in the court.
Several prison officers were also in attendance and were overheard making remarks in support of their two colleagues.
Tempers flared outside the court, and a female relative of one of the defendants physically assaulted a newspaper cameraman, who was among journalists attempting to photograph the accused.
The charges that were laid came some three months after Niles’s death. The two are to make their next court appearance on October 14.
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