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Maloney family upset
Published on: 4/30/2009.
THE Maloney family are not satisfied with coroner Faith Marshall-Harris' verdict that the death of I'Akobi Maloney was a misadventure.
In a written statement to this newspaper, Mandela Maloney said the question of how his brother died still remained unanswered.
He stated that the verdict was debatable and that his family "vehemently refutes the coroner's claim in this regard".
I'Akobi Maloney died last June 18, when according to police reports, he jumped off a 50 ft cliff at Land Lock, St Lucy, when two police officers were attempting to escort him to the police station.
"In her context it was defined as the act of running from the police which inadvertently resulted in his death. Our family vehemently refutes the coroner's claim in this regard as the act of running for freedom quintessentially describes the act of suicide", the 22 year-old Mandela Maloney stated.
He further charged that the coroner had accepted the "single report" made by the two police officers Sergeant Wingrove Headley and Anthony Walkes who were with his brother when he died as "the irrevocable truth".
"We are now firmly of the belief that the police are an autonomous body in Barbados and subsequently we must now call ourselves judicial apostates as it relates to any interaction between this body and the general public," Mandela said.
The Maloney family was also critical of the coroner's report that there was only a five minute window of opportunity and that the police could not do anything in that time, on an open pasture, to procure Maloney's death. The family argued that it would take "mere seconds" for a body to land at the foot of a cliff.
But the family said they were satisfied that the coroner had cleared I'Akobi's name from being associated with any homosexual activity.
He pointed out that the family will meet with their attorneys and members of their group's Justice Committee before deciding what further steps they were going to take.
5 comment found!
A different perspective : 4/30/2009
Firstly my deepest sympathy to the family of I'Akobi. To his mother and father who have to suffer with the grief of losing their son under extremely unusual circumstance to which no on can find answers. While I can only begin to fathom what pain his family feels I can't help but wonder if those on the justice committee did more harm than good. In my humblest opinion, the strategy used to seek answers into his death was one that was plagued with several errors that worked against the Maloney family. While those around Ms.Maloney may have seemed well intentioned, I can't help but think that they didn't have her best interest at heart. While I would admit that there is profiling of rasta by law enforcement, I have to wonder why would they use this line to seek justice in a system filled with the narrow minded and judgemental. No man is an island and the rastafarian community as much as some will like to think do no exist in their own world. I saw I'Akobi as a human being firstly, a human being whose death was strange and left alot of question marks. From the first article in the paper, I couldn't help but think something was wrong. I am not a rasta and felt the same way. Why couldn't the justice committee pursue this case in the name of I'Akobi and not the rasta community. It could have been anyone on that cliff. Look at how many other persons have died in Barbados under mysterious circumstances.... I agree that questions needed to be answered and I personally felt that things would have gone better had a different route for answeres was taken. The main issue got lost in translation. Instead alot of unnecessary and untrue information about the decease was revealed to tarnish his character and his lifestyle. I believe both sides should share the blame equally in this. To Ms.Maloney, I am indeed sorry that this pain was brought upon you. I hope someday you really find out what happened. However I do believe that those closest to you in this fight, did so more so out of self interest than the interest in your son.
: 4/30/2009
TO the Maloneys: Please try to find some peace in your lives and leave the rest to God. I am sure you will see his just reward.
Shame : 4/30/2009
What kind of society are we living in when we can't trust the police. What a shame !
No justice for I'Akobi : 4/30/2009
There are still to many unanswered guestions in this story,,i am awaiting the day when we are allowed justice for all and not for some,I'Akobi life is as valuable to his family as mine and your's are to us and our familys,we must keep fighting for equal rights for all.
: 4/30/2009
Mandela know that some conscious members of the Barbadian society are with you and your family we to want justice. This verdict shows that police can make and break the law.
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