Coroner slams Policemen for not taking notes
CORONER FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS chastised a police officer for failing to make written notes surrounding the death of 23-year-old I’Akobi Maloney.
During his testimony on Thursday, Police Constable Wendell Walkes told the coroner that he did not make any notes because the incident was clear in his mind.
But Coroner Marshall-Harris told the detective that it was a matter of credibility and not simply having a good a memory.
“We have to start making sure that what we say is credible by being able to demonstrate ‘here are my notes’. A lot of facts made are expo facts - that is not really right. You should be able to demonstrate your notes. It goes to your credibility. I am not necessarily saying that you are lying.”
She then asked the officer why he said that Maloney had a strange look on his face, to which Walkes replied: “He had a far away kind of look - like if you are there but somewhere else”.
He stated that the first thing that caught his attention was Maloney pacing the area, adding that he had a sad, withdrawn look on his face.
Rocky terrain
The coroner also quizzed the officer about the rough, rocky terrain at Land Lock, pointing out “I can’t see anybody running fast on that terrain.”
But Walkes stated that Maloney ran “very fast, he flew”. He said he could not catch the youngster and he slowed down as he approached the cliff.
Tags: Constable Wendell Walkes, credibility, Faith Marshall-Harris, rocky terrain, written notes