Barbados: Two men reportedly tortured in Barbados
Two men who are suspects in a robbery have reportedly been tortured while in police custody in the district of Christ Church. They have not received adequate medical treatment and remain at risk of further ill-treatment.
UA: 69/14 Index: AMR 15/001/2014 Barbados Date: 21 March 2014
URGENT ACTION
TWO MEN REPORTEDLY TORTURED IN BARBADOS
Two men who are suspects in a robbery have reportedly been tortured while in police
custody in the district of Christ Church. They have not received adequate medical
treatment and remain at risk of further ill-treatment.
At 11am on 17 March, Adrian Mottley and Jamar Headley handed themselves in to Hastings police station in
Christ Church, Barbados, after learning they were wanted by the police in connection with a robbery at an
amusement arcade. Both men were accompanied by their lawyer, who ensured that his clients’ good health was
certified by a doctor just before they were taken into police custody.
Four hours later, the lawyer received a call from Adrian Mottley who requested his urgent presence. When the
lawyer arrived he saw that Adrian Mottley was in distress, he had a split lip and had vomit on his mouth. Shortly
afterwards he fainted and began foaming at the mouth. The lawyer pleaded for first aid attention but he was
ignored, and Adrian Mottley was dragged out of the interview room and handcuffed. Eventually he was taken for
medical attention, but instead of being taken to hospital he was seen briefly by a general practitioner who
reportedly prescribed him medication for anxiety. Adrian Mottley later told his lawyer that police officers had
wrapped him in plastic wrap from his feet up to his neck and then beaten him around the body. The police refused
to allow the lawyer to see Jamar Headley and was only able to see him later that night after he was transferred to
another police station. Jamar Headley told his lawyer that he had been hit about the head by a blunt object he
believed to be a book. On 18 March Adrian Mottley and Jamar Headley’s lawyer filed a complaint regarding their ill-
treatment at police headquarters.
The two men, who admit responsibility for the robbery, have said that they were beaten to coerce them into
admitting responsibility for other robberies. They were eventually forced to into signing a confession saying that
they were carrying a firearm during the arcade robbery, something which they deny. Their lawyer has stated that
the two men are still being refused access to an independent doctor.
Please write immediately in English or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to ensure that Adrian Mottley and Jamar Headley are protected from torture and ill-
treatment, in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;
Urging them to ensure that they are granted immediate access to adequate medical attention including
examination by a doctor of their choosing with the results provided to their lawyer and families;
Calling on the authorities to immediately initiate an independent investigation into allegations that the two men
were tortured and their confessions obtained under duress, and bring those responsible to justice.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 2 MAY 2014 TO:
Minister of Home Affairs and Attorney
General
Adriel Brathwaite
Ground Floor, Jones Building
Webster's Industrial Park
Bridgetown, Barbados
Fax: +1 246 437 3794
Email: ps@mha.gov.bb
Salutation: Dear Minister
Acting Commissioner of Police
Tyrone Griffith
Police Headquarters
Lower Roebuck Street
Bridgetown, Barbados
Fax: +1 246 429 8755
Email: thecop@rbpf.gov.bb;
staffofficer@rbpf.gov.bb
Salutation: Dear Commissioner
And copies to:
Ombudsman
Valton Bend
2nd Floor, Trident House
Bridgetown, Barbados
Fax: +1 246 426 4444
Email: ombudsman@caribsurf.com
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
TWO MEN REPORTEDLY TORTURED IN BARBADOS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Adrian Mottley and Jamar Headley appeared in court on 19 March and were charged with aggravated robbery. They were
denied bail as their confessions – which they claimed were signed under torture – stated that they had carried a firearm during
the robbery. They have been transferred to the island’s main prison and are scheduled to appear in court on 16 April.
Barbados has yet to ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment. During the Universal Periodic Review of Barbados’ fulfilment of it human rights obligations and
commitments before the UN Human Rights Council in 2013, Barbados stated that it was unable to accept recommendations to
sign the convention as it was not in a position to meet all the obligations contained in the treaty.
In March 2007 the UN Human Rights Committee stated that it was concerned about the lack of a legal definition of torture in
Barbados’ domestic law and recommended that the country introduce a legal definition of torture compatible with the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Name: Adrian Mottley and Jamar Headley
Gender m/f: m
UA: 69/14 Index: AMR 15/001/2014 Issue Date: 21 March 2014