Investigation into deaths of suspects: Young summons cops
Monday 15 February 2021
National Security Minister Stuart Young and Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith at a meeting of the Parliament s Standing Finance Committee in 2019. - PHOTO COURTESY THE OFFICE OF THE PARLIAMENT
MINISTER of National Security Stuart Young on Monday said he had earlier called in police top brass including Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to ask about the deaths, while in police custody, of Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon. The two were suspects in the kidnapping and murder of law clerk Andrea Bharatt, 23.
At a briefing at his ministry in Port of Spain, Young said the suspects’ deaths were being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), which has already received some details, and the police.
Griffith: Politicians are the real monsters! CoP fires back at Persad-Bissessar and Nakhid
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, in his trademark rhetoric, responded to concerns expressed by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Senator David Nakhid about the deaths of Andrew ‘Solo’ Morris and Joel Belcon while in police custody with personal attacks today, via a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) release.
Griffith suggested that Persad-Bissessar and Nakhid were hypocrites and monsters but did not directly respond to the issues raised by the politicians other than to point out that an investigation is underway.
Photo: Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith (left) and his wife Nicole Dyer-Griffith during the 2018 Independence Day parade in Port of Spain.
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DEAD: Andrew Morris -
Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West said on Tuesday he is satisfied with the direction the investigation into the deaths of two suspects while in police custody is heading.
Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon were held for questioning for the kidnapping of Andrea Bharatt after she was last seen entering a car disguised as a taxi on January 29. Bharatt’s body was later found on February 4 at the Heights of Aripo.
Morris died on February 1 and Balcon died eight days after. Their autopsy revealed they died of blunt force trauma.
PCA announced, on February 9, that it had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the men.