And NOW to a side issue...
During Criminal justice cases, the prosecution branch are the ones responsible for transporting and handling prisoners. However when it comes to this particular case "The Bladen 12" there are high profile prisoners involved like Elmer Nah, and so the prosecution has upped their security measures with the help of the GI3. We learned recently that during the proceedings for this case, Nah had filed a complaint that while being transported from the prison to the court he was threatened by an inspector. When we asked Elrington about it today she says that they have the receipts, moreover, video footage to prove that no such thing happened.
Here's more...
Alifah Elrington, Prosecutor
"Because this is a very high profile case, as Mr. Bradley has said 10 countless times in interviews, and we're dealing with a high profile defendant. We have had to add security measures in the transporting of those two prisoners."
"So what has happened is that GI3 is assisting in the transporting of those two prisoners for this particular case. The defense counsel, Mr. Jones, did get up and did say to the court that his client made certain complaints to him."
"Based on what was said, I indicated to the court that as much as it is that he is making that for the court's knowledge, the proper procedure, if it is that he's having a difficulty with a police officer or a police officer is doing something that he's not required to do or he's not expected to do as a police officer, the proper procedure was to make an official complaint through the Professional Standards Bureau of the Police Police Department."
"After that complaint was made, I subsequently got certain information as it relates to the actual transportation. So there is actual video footage of the full transportation of Mr. Nah when he was picked up at the prison, when he was escorted out the prison doors into the prison van, and the prison van is actually secured also with video cameras at the front and at the back."
"So his entire transportation while he was on that prison van was also recorded. The officers in this situation are also equipped with body cams. So when he was taken out of the prison van at the back of the court on that day and escorted up the prison steps there is also that video footage and that was my position to the court today that I am putting on record that we have the entire transaction and we are prepared to defend the actions of the police officer and the allegations that were made. So, that is what I said to your honor this morning. I had to put it on record because what officially was on record was a formal complaint that an inspector was threatening him and so I had to make sure because again prisoners are a part of the transportation, has become a part of our duty and I need to ensure that he is being transported properly and he's not being threatened. So I indicated to the court that I have the video footage for that day in question. I got the footage the same day because that's a very serious allegation and it casts serious aspersions on the police department and it subsequently casts additional aspersions on the GI3 who we are relying heavily on in relation to ensuring that there's security not only for the prisoners but for the entire trial because of the nature of the trial."
"So I wanted to ensure that I saw what happened and what the situation was and I could be able to explain to the court what that position is."
If Nah chooses to challenge this - Ellington says they will produce the video from body cameras to disprove the allegations.
