Final adjournment given in case of Prison officer charged with aiding prison escape

A final adjournment has been given in the case of Louie Cupid, a prison officer who is charged with aiding murder accused Veron Primus’ escape from jail.

The 12-year veteran prison officer of Murray’s Village who is on $15,000 bail, appeared at the Serious Offences Court (SOC) on Tuesday, June 2.

Cupid has been charged with, at Her Majesty’s Prison, between September 29 and October 1, 2019, being employed in the public service as a prison officer, abusing the authority of his office, an arbitrary act, prejudicial to the rights of the Superintendent of Prisons, by conspiring to aid the escape of Veron Primus.

He is additionally charged that he, between September 24 and October 2, 2019, agreed with Primus that a course of conduct should be pursued which if carried out would amount to the offence of escaping lawful custody.

On Tuesday, the witnesses in the matter, including Inspector Elgin Richards of the Major Crimes Unit, and the Superintendent of Prisons (SOP) Brenton Charles, were present for the start of the matter.

However, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche indicated that while they are present the case file was not. He noted that it had been returned to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office last Friday, and was being looked at.

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment and promised “come hell or high water”, whatever date was set, the matter will begin.
Cupid’s defense lawyer Grant Connell questioned how long the court would accommodate the prosecution.

“One more time. FINAL adjournment,” the chief magistrate responded.

Connell remarked that his client was on half pay.

Browne indicated that the adjournment would be until July 6.

Cupid’s charge stemmed from an incident which occurred between Monday, September 30, and Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

For the less than 24 hours that Primus remained outside the prison before returning voluntarily to custody on the afternoon of October 1, it is not known what he did during this time.

Cupid is the only person who has been charged with aiding in Primus’ escape.

At one point in time Primus had a number of charges under his belt.

The prisoner pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and was sentenced by the chief magistrate to 16 months imprisonment.

Primus is currently on remand awaiting trial, as he is accused of the 2015 murder of real estate agent Sharleen Greaves who was found stabbed to death in her Bijou Real Estate Agency on November 13, 2015.

He previously faced charges of rape, buggery, and kidnap of his ex-girlfriend Mewanah Hadaway. This case attracted much attention because it was alleged that Primus kept Hadaway prisoner in his house in Vermont between January 1 and April 15, 2016 before she managed to send a message seeking help.

However, the prosecution has since withdrawn these charges against Primus. Hadaway is now said to reside overseas.

Primus has also been indicted for the 2006 murder of Brooklyn resident Chanel Petro Nixon who was 16 years old when she was strangled to death.