Charges filed against man who claims he was beaten by police

Robert ‘Negril’ DaSilva, the van driver who claimed he was severely beaten by police officers from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) during a routine stop and search has been charged with several different offences.

DaSilva was released from hospital on Wednesday, September 6, after spending over a week there nursing injuries inflicted while in police custody.

He was arrested on Tuesday, August 29, on the Argyle public road while driving his minivan H1662.

DaSilva appeared in court on Thursday, charged that on August 29, at the Argyle public road, he drove his minivan without a valid driver’s permit (expired on August 2); and that he drove without a seatbelt and that the minivan had defective tires that could cause danger to persons. He was also charged that he damaged a front fender, valued at EC$350 and a back bumper, valued at EC$1,250 belonging to motor vehicle PU 220, the property of Romario Bibby of Diamond.

DaSilva is also charged that he resisted the arrest of Corporal 394 Gibs McDowall and that he assaulted the police officer on two separate occasions, causing actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty to all the offences.

The New Grounds man was given bail in the sum of EC$5,000 with one surety and asked to surrender his travel documents and report to the Colonarie Police Station on Mondays and Fridays.

Lawyer Grant Connell, appearing on DaSilva’s behalf, asked that his client be released on his own recognizance, but Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias denied the request.

DaSilva’s mother later turned up to bail him.