Prisoner officer and cop say they’re not guilty

Sharlene Maduro and Kareena Brea, one of the prison officers and the police officer charged with breach of trust in relation to the fatal prison stabbing of 29-year-old Nichail Chambers, pleaded not guilty when they appeared in the Magistrate Court earlier today.

The other accused Mark Kendall had pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court on the previous occasion.

The three co-defendants’ bail of $60,000 was extended by Magistrate Khadeen Palmer.

The accused trio are expected to reappear in court on January 19, 2022, for reporting on the matter of disclosure between the prosecution and the defence.

Kendall is now being represented by Michael Maduro while Brea is still being represented by Valerie Stephens-Gordon. The third defendant, Maduro, is now being represented by Israel Bruce.

The case is being prosecuted by Director of Public Prosecution Tiffany Scatliffe-Espirit. However, Crown counsel Kellei-Gaye Smith handled the matter today.

It is alleged that on May 30, 2021, Maduro and Kendall, while in their capacity as prison officers committed a breach of trust by relaying information to inmates at Her Majesty Prison regarding investigations into the stabbing death of Chambers.

This, according to the prosecution, was done without proper authority.

Brea, the police officer, is also accused of providing information without proper authorisation regarding the investigation. She is alleged to have done so between May 31 and June 3.

The prosecution did not specify to whom she relayed the information nor did they inform the court as to what specific police regulation was breached.

Meanwhile, the five prisoners involved in the stabbing were charged with murder. The inmates are Andraes Norford, Essadro Jefferson, Rean-J Christopher, Dee Dijon Hodge and Kareem Durant. Norford and Jefferson were also charged with attempted murder for injuries sustained by another unidentified inmate.