Government to compensate family of Derrick Uh, who died in police custody

The government is looking to compensate the family of Derrick Uh, the Corozal resident who died in police custody, according to the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams. In August last year, Uh died after he was locked up in a police van for half a day when police forgot he was there. Since then, Uh’s family says they have been seeking legal redress for his death but have not been able to get an audience with the government. They have now retained the services of Senior Counsel Attorney Dean Barrow and have filed a lawsuit against GOB. ComPol Williams, says the Attorney General’s Ministry has since reached out to the family.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Like you said that they have filed suit through Barrow and Williams law firm. I’m sure that what is going to be contested is not the issue of liability. The AG’s ministry is going to accept liability where Uh’s death is concerned the issue of dispute might be the issue of quantum and the court does provide a mechanism by which quantum is determined when it comes to an unlawful death case. And so the AG’s ministry is going to be guided by that. I am sure that it’s not going to be that contentious it’s just a matter of working out the quantum and I think we might arrive at that decision at mediation.” 

ComPol Williams also weighed in on the investigation into the incident and provided an update on the officers charged for Uh’s death.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “We do have a court system that is in motion and those officers are before the court. It is going to be an indictable matter to be heard at the Supreme Court and so I think the PI was held about a week ago and so the matter is now before the Supreme Court and we’ll see where that goes from there. There is also a matter before the police tribunal that is also going to be heard either this month or next month.”