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Detective Sergeant Biorn Duncan, left, escorts Louie Cupid, to the Serious Offences Court in October 2019. (iWN photo)
Detective Sergeant Biorn Duncan, left, escorts Louie Cupid, to the Serious Offences Court in October 2019. (iWN photo)
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A Murray’s Village man with 12 years’ experience in the prison service was, on Friday, denied bail on two charges related to the escape, earlier this week, of accused murderer Veron Primus from Her Majesty’s Prisons in Kingstown.

Louie Cupid, 45, pleaded not guilty to a charge that between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2019, at Her Majesty’s Prisons, in Kingstown, being employed in the Public Service, as a police officer, he abused the authority of his office by doing an arbitrary act prejudice to the rights of the Superintendent of Prisons, to wit, conspire to aid the escape of Veron Primus from lawful custody.

He entered the same plea on a charge that between Sept. 24 and Oct. 2, 2019 at Her Majesty’s Prisons in Kingstown, he agreed with Veron Primus that a course of conduct shall be pursued, which, if the agreement was carried out in accordance with his intention, would amount to the commission of the offence of escaping lawful custody by the parties to the agreement.  

Counsel Grant Connell who appeared for Cupid at the Serious Offences Court told the court that Joseph Delves was also a lawyer for the accused man.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche objected to Cupid’s bail, telling Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne that the investigation concerns national security.

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Delplesche told the court that the investigations are continuing and the investigator, head of the Major Crime Unit, Inspector Elgin Richards, had indicated that the investigations were at a delicate stage.

The prosecutor said the investigators feared that if granted bail, Cupid would hinder the progress of the investigation.

The investigations spread wide, Delplesche said, noting that one of the charges was conspiracy.

He asked the court for a little more time so that Richards and his team “can turn over every stone, every Ju-c cork, every nail that they may have to in these investigations.

“That is all I am asking for,” Delplesche told the court. 

He said that the Crown would not object ad infinitum but was asking for an opportunity “to look for more, unhindered”.

Delplesche said that while Cupid has his constitutional rights, the state is also protected by the Constitution and due process must be allowed to take place.

The senior prosecutor said that if the application is granted, the investigators would report. 

However, Connell said that Delplesche’s was a submission made on several occasions, which the court has entertained and most likely would entertain on that occasion.

The defence counsel, however, said that he must draw to the attention of the court that when someone is charged, it is understood that there is sufficient evidence to bring a charge before the court. 

That person is innocent until proven guilty, Connell said, adding, “it is not the French law we are practicing”.

The defence lawyer said he did not know much about Ju-c cork and other things that investigators have to turn over.

“What I do know are the charges that are before this court,” he said, adding that they hinge on Primus’ escape from lawful custody. 

Connell said that the institution in question is the prison, and that four officers were taken into custody, three released, and one charged.

“I can’t see, at this juncture, what more investigation the prosecution could possibly be taking about. That is a fishing expedition at best. We are here for bail,” Connell said.

Louie Cupid 2
Louie Cupid, centre, used his cap to hide his face as he is escorted to the Serious Offences Court on Friday. (iWN photo)

He said that Cupid has sufficient ties to the jurisdiction, is a Vincentian who has been employed by the prison authorities for a significant period, and can supply a surety.

The lawyer also said that court could impose conditions of bail “that would shackle him so that he would not get involved in this great investigation”.

Connell submitted that the prosecution’s application for time and objecting to bail “is only a veneer.

“It is actually adding insult to injury… They have not told this honourable court any reason why this man would not turn up for his trial.”

In announcing her decision to deny bail, the chief magistrate said she had considered the nature of the charges and the representation by prosecution and defence and was denying bail because of the serious nature of the charges.

The chief magistrate said she would review bail next Friday, Oct. 11. 

Louie Cupid
Prison Officer Louie Cupid when he appeared in court in 2016. (iWN file photo)

This is the second time since 2016 that Cupid has been charged in connection with the execution of his duties. 

On Nov. 3, 2016, Cupid appeared before the Serious Offences Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge that on Oct. 31, 2016 at Her Majesty’s Prisons in Kingstown, he brought or attempted to bring into Her Majesty’s Prison a prohibited item, to wit one Azumi cellular phone and its accessories comprising of a headphone, USB cord, adapter and one portable charger.

Cupid had been granted station bail before appearing in court and Senior Magistrate Rechanne Browne allowed the bail arrangement to continue.

The matter was withdrawn on Jan. 20, 2017, when Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche told the court that the Crown was not proceeding with the matter.

Veron Primus
Veron Primus leaves the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown on Wednesday to begin a prison sentence for escaping prison. (iWN photo)

Meanwhile Primus, 32, escaped while on remand awaiting trial for the November 2015 murder of real estate agent Sharleen Greaves, 33.

On Wednesday, the chief magistrate ordered him to serve a 16-month prison term for the jailbreak.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge that between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2019, at Kingstown, while being held on remand at Her Majesty’s Prisons, he did escape such lawful custody.

The accused murderer, who returned to custody voluntarily, refused to tell police anything about how he was able to escape from prison.

In court, his only comment on the jailbreak was, “I did return voluntarily and I did plead guilty at the first opportunity.”

Primus has also been indicted in New York in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Chanel Petro-Nixon.

U.S. authorities have made an extradition request for Primus but Kingstown says it will consider the request after exhausting the legal proceedings in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

8 replies on “Prison officer charged with conspiracy, corruption; denied bail”

  1. What about the other six prisonofficers so they were not charge and bail isn’t granted to Cupid If it was some else bail will be granted to them

  2. Andre Richards says:

    stupid guy he is now in the same cell situation let him free himself or see if any one will assist him in escaping

  3. Rawlston Pompey says:

    LOCKUP – REMAND – INVESTIGATE AFTER

    It is instructive to note that the policy appears to be ‘…Police lockup, then ask the Court for time to ‘…turn over every stone; …every Ju-C cork; and every nail.’

    Other than a ‘…crayfish; …a part of a puzzle; and a …nail-punctured wound to the foot,’ not sure they could find evidence relevant to the fact in issue- ‘…Conspiracy.’

    The issue of ‘…Non-attendance or absconsion from the Court’s jurisdiction, appeared not to have been a factor- the most critical.

    Here is where Magistrates appear to differ.

    Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett has made it sufficiently clear that when a Case reaches the Court, it is for trial’ and not for investigation.

    While the prosecution shall ensure that there is ‘…sufficient prima facie evidence’ to start prosecution, it is the duty of Police investigators to martial the requisite facts that such process may commence within a reasonable time.

    But then, when ‘…public and official pressure’ is brought to bear on their professional competence, the practice they appeared to have adopted is ‘…Lockup; apply to the Court for remand and then ‘…Investigate After.’

    What if the charges cannot be substantiated evidentially?

    1. Rawlston, good question, I am sure you already know the answer to. “What if the charges cannot be substantiated evidentially”? It’s called fitting you up. They go away and see how the can invent things or plant items of evidence. If it was not there before once its invented and planted it will be there afterwards. But it all takes time because as we all know the majority of our police are not to with it mentally. So give them time they will come up with something.

      Plus a few good beatings at the Kingstown barracks interview room or holding cell, and the prison officer will admit and sign anything he is asked to sign. Happens every day, it’s an adopted and accepted method, happens in every instance. Even a man told me happened to him when riding a cycle without lights, they hurt him so much they didn’t charge him, threwh him out with further threats.

  4. Kennette desilva says:

    I think is best the government of st.vincent and the grenadines and the queen of england handed over to the guardsman service of s.v.g the same rights to arrest and detain like a police officer. Because i seeing that the guardsman is doing their job better than the police. The police is corruption and taking bribe and never at there post. Look at the guardsman, they always at their post doing their job. I look at a young man name clenton james working for the guardsman service at the hospital up george town. I look at his name tag working for the guardsman service. This guy is very focus and doing his job well and always at his post. If i was the commissioner, i would’ve take him over into the force regardless of age, because is people like him we need in the force. This guy is very serious about his job. This guy really need a great reward.

    1. I suspect that this writer is not Kennette at all but is in fact Clenton. Well done Clenton, very inventive.

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