Couple get $118,000 for police beating

Press, 26 April 1982, Page 9

Couple get $118,000 for police beating

NZPA London A mddle-aged Jamaican couple. ’ Drutally" beaten up by policemen in their north London home, have been awarded $118,716 damages by a High Court judge. Mr Justice Mars-Jones said that the officers, in trying to cover up their wrongful acts, had been guilty of "monstrous, wicked and shameful conduct in the name of justice.” David White, aged 60. and his wife, Lucille, aged 50, were subjected to a "catalogue of violence and inhuman treatment by young officers." Both suffered multiple injuries at the hands of

officers who “unlawfully invaded” their home in the middle of the night. "The effect of the behaviour could do immense damage to race relations,” said the judge. Because of the serious implications of the case he awarded aggravated and exemplary damages, $61,668 to Mr White and. 557,048 to Mrs White, for assault, wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution. The police had persisted in a five-year cover-up of their “brutal, savage and sustained variety of assaults,” said the judge. The judge said he was sad that he could not accept police evidence of what hap-

pened when up to 17 officers raided the couple's home on the night of September 15-16, 1976. He was satisfied that the officers “jumped the gun” when they invaded the house knowing that a search warrant for stolen goods had been issued and was on its way. I’n the event the search warrant was never produced. The officers’ entry was illegal, and the couple and their family had every right to resist them. No stolen goods were ever found. Mr and Mrs White were arrested and charged with assault on the police, but were acquitted after a Crown Court trial.