DPP drops manslaughter charge against Policeman

Nearly 13 years after being charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Terry Wayne Jack, 22, Police Constable Cleon Moriah was exonerated of the allegation on Tuesday.

Jurors were ordered by Judge Jo Ann Barlow to return a formal verdict of not-guilty, effectively acquitting the accused, following the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) submission of a nolle prosequi at the start of Moriah’s trial on Tuesday at the High Court in the county of Berbice.

Dead: Terry Jack

Nolle prosequi is a legal notice filed with the court that the prosecutor decides to discontinue the indictment/accusation against the accused found in the charging document.

Information reaching this publication indicates that Jack’s mother had asked for the case to be dropped because Moriah is close to her family. Also, the prosecution’s primary witness is now deceased.

Moriah was represented by Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan.

State Counsel Muntaz Ali presented the case for the prosecution.

Court records state that on July 4, 2011, between 15:00 and 22:00 hours, Jack, Moriah, and three other friends were drinking at a shop close to the Orealla Police Station.

At the time, Moriah was assigned to that station.

When the lights at the business went out, they proceeded to the Orealla Police Station and continued to drink vodka. 

Around 11:30 p.m., Jack requested Moriah to show them a gun while they were still at the station, and he (Moriah) pulled out a rifle without a magazine and displayed it to them.

Holding the revolver by its nuzzle, Jack, who was reportedly drunk at the time, challenged Moriah to pull the trigger while he showed them all of its functions.  

When Moriah refused, Jack reached over and squeezed the trigger as Moriah pulled away the rifle.

Jack and Moriah had no idea that the gun contained a bullet.

Jack was in the chest and was later declared dead.

Following a preliminary inquiry, a magistrate committed Moriah to stand trial by jury before a Judge for the offence after concluding that there was sufficient evidence against him.

Pending the hearing and outcome of the case, Moriah was released on $300,000 bail.

Furthermore, he was interdicted.