The police say more than five persons have expressed interest in representing Rushawn Patterson, the person of interest (POI) in the murder of social media influencer Aneka ‘Slickianna’ Townsend. However, Michelle Thomas, who says she is representing Patterson, is encouraging the police to “dot all their i’s and cross all their t’s” in the case against her client.

Patterson’s lawyer alleges cops interviewed client behind her back

4 Nov 2022/Tanesha Mundle/staff Reporter tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com

 

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW MICHELLE Thomas, who is representing Rushawn Patterson, the person of interest in the murder of socialmedia influencer Aneka ‘slickianna’ Townsend, is accusing the police of breaching due process after her client was reportedly questioned behind her back.

The lawyer told The Gleaner that her client was questioned on Wednesday and a statement recorded.

Thomas also reported that her client was taken from his cell and was transported to a guest house in Hanover by the police, as part of their investigation.

Given the sensitive nature of the high-profile case, Thomas said the police should ensure that they “dot all their ‘i’s and cross all their ‘t’s”. She argued that she should have been present for the interrogation of her client.

While stressing that the police are aware of the protocols, the attorney expressed concern that her client could have incriminated himself or prejudiced his case.

“He might say something which does not mean that he is guilty, but it may prejudice his case,” she said.

Patterson was apprehended by the police at a guest house in Hanover on Wednesday, a day before he was expected to surrender to the security forces.

He was named as a person of interest shortly after Townsend’s body was recovered from the sea in Reading, St James, on October 21.

The police had reported on Tuesday that Patterson would be turning himself in on Thursday and would be charged after he was questioned.

But, according to the lawyer, the investigator in the case deliberately blocked her from the question-andanswer (Q&A) session and went ahead and engaged the services of a justice of the peace.

“The morning of the said interview, I spoke with him, so if he had any intention, it would have been easy for him to say, ‘ms Thomas, I’m going into office and I’m going to do the Q&A, so make yourself available’,” she said, adding that her client was told that he did not need a lawyer.

Thomas said she had called the investigator that morning to inform him that she was available and to find out when the Q&A would be done, but was told to call him back at 10 a.m.

However, the attorney said several calls to the investigator that day were not answered.

“I am just putting it on the record that the police are treading on a dangerous course, because any statement that is given under coercion is not admissible in court,” Thomas warned.

Area One police commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clifford Chambers, told The Gleaner that he could not respond to Thomas’ claim as he has not yet been updated on that aspect of the investigation.

But Chambers, while pointing out that more than five different lawyers have expressed an interest in representing Patterson, said he was not sure if Thomas has been retained in the matter and is, in fact, his attorney.

However, he said, in cases where a lawyer contacts an investigator and advises that he or she is the legal representative, arrangements have consistently been made for the attorney to be present for interviews.

Chambers said that Patterson was slapped Thursday with assault and abduction charges in relation to a 2018 matter. No charges have been laid against Patterson in the influencer’s case.

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