Vendor accused of murder ‘brutally assaulted’ in prison

DVD vendor Louis Lancaster  who allegedly murdered taxi driver Vibert Assanah outside the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) has sustained a broken forearm and fractured shin after being beaten with a piece of wood while in prison, a court was told yesterday.

 Louis Lancaster
Louis Lancaster

Lancaster, 35, of Fifth Street, Alberttown appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on October 30 charged with Assanah’s murder. He again appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday.

It was alleged that on October 26 on Bent Street between Hardina and Haley streets, Lancaster and a male accomplice murdered ex-police officer Vibert Assanah of 40 Ptolemy Street, Melanie Damishana, by stabbing him in the shoulder with a knife that punctured a major artery.

The man’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, told the magistrate that Lancaster had been “brutally assaulted”. Further, Hughes said the man and his mother, who resides in the United States, were receiving “death threats”.

Because of these circumstances the attorney requested a short adjournment. Lancaster is to appear again in court on December 10.

“He [Lancaster] was brutally assaulted in the capital at the prison with a prison guard down the corridor,” Hughes said. “This assault occurred on Sunday, November 23…I’m not sure if it’s roughing-up or torture”, an allusion to the controversy that has sprung up over the definition of torture.

A piece of wood which was approximately three feet in length with nails and other sharp objects driven through it to leave the pointed edges exposed on one side, Hughes explained, was used to beat his client. As a result of the beating, the attorney continued, Lancaster sustained a broken left forearm and multiple fractures to the left shin.

According to Hughes, Lancaster was taken to the GPH for treatment, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later returned to the prison infirmary.

The attorney informed the court that he visited his client on November 26 and Lancaster had to be lifted bodily and carried to the reception area where he interviewed him.

“He was unable to walk on November 26,” Hughes said. “I interviewed him and up to that time despite several attempts made to report the matter to the prison authority, no prison officer had interviewed him and taken a statement from him about the matter. He is in a position to identify his assailant.”

The attorney further told the court that he was concerned about his client’s safety since Assanah’s relatives have threatened Lancaster.

“The life of this accused is in significant danger and the inability of the prison authority to address this assault incident is even more worrying,” Hughes stated. “He is coming to this court where his trial should be fair and free from fear.”

Hughes requested that additional security be provided for Lancaster.

The inspector in charge of court prisoners informed the court through the prosecution that they heard nothing of a threat. According to the inspector, two women had been arguing at the time and they were warned.

Stabroek News was present at the time Lancaster was being transported from the van to the prisoners’ cell. A man was heard shouting at the accused.

“Look at me…you kill me brother-in-law. I gon deal with you. Wait leh you get out,” the man told Lancaster.

Hughes said that he has since sent a letter to the Prison Authority, and copies to Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, informing them about the incident.

Dale Erskine, Director of Prisons, when contacted for a comment told Stabroek News that the Prison Authority was aware of the matter before receiving Hughes’ letter and they along with the police were taking necessary action.

“We know of the incident,” Erskine said. “And it is receiving relevant attention from both us and the police.”

When questioned about whether a prison officer might have been “down the corridor”, as stated by Hughes, Erskine said he was not in a position to make any comments. However, he later pointed out that had an officer been present that officer would have taken the necessary action and would have done everything to avoid such a situation.