An inquest began on Tuesday into the death of a police officer who was found hanged three days after being suspended from duty on suspicion of attempting to solicit sexual favors.
A coroner’s jury of four men and three women began hearing evidence pertaining to the death of Raphael Anthony Williams, 45, who had been suspended from duty on Jan. 9.
Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik told jurors that Mr. Williams’s wife reported on Jan. 11 that she could not find her husband. On Jan. 12, his vehicle was spotted by the police helicopter; later that day, Mr. Williams was found hanging from a tree in the area of Wilderness Drive, Colliers, East End.
The coroner told jurors they had to decide whether Mr. Williams’s death was by natural causes, misadventure or suicide; if suicide, his state of mind at the time. If jurors consider that the evidence is insufficient for a conclusion to be reached, the verdict will be open.
The coroner listed approximately 30 names of witnesses who would be called or whose statements were to be read. The majority were police officers.
Attorneys James Stenning and Allain Forget attended as counsel for Natalee Williams, widow of the deceased. Crown Counsel Greg Welcome advised that he was holding a watching brief on behalf of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The first witness called was Detective Chief Inspector Richard Barrow, who gave evidence that, as the officer in charge of the Professional Standards Unit, he had received a phone call in which information was relayed to him that a police officer had attempted to solicit sexual favors from a woman. The woman subsequently filed a complaint at the police station.
Direct surveillance was organized as part of the investigation. The woman had a phone number the suspected officer had allegedly given to her. Police asked her to place a controlled phone call to that number. She called, but there was no answer. A few minutes later, a call came to her phone and there was a conversation.
On Thursday morning, Jan. 9, officers arrested Mr. Williams at his home for breach of trust and blackmail. He denied the allegations but was cooperative in handing over his notebooks and two cellphones.
He was taken to the George Town Police Station but was not restrained in any way, so that it would look like three officers entering. He advised that he was on medication for high blood pressure. Mr. Barrow said he conveyed this to the custody sergeant and also said Mr. Williams was to be given help in contacting a legal adviser.
Mr. Stenning and Mr. Walcolm asked about any risk assessment being made as to likelihood of self-harm. Mr. Barrow said officers deemed such risk low, as evidenced by the decision not to use restraints and to enter the police station by the front door.
Detective Constable Anthony David Hill told the court about efforts to obtain legal representation. Attorney Charles Clifford had a private consultation with Mr. Williams and then attended his formal interview. Mr. Williams was formally bailed on Friday evening, Jan. 10.
The inquest was scheduled to continue on Tuesday afternoon and the following day.
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