Supergrass faces uncertain future

(CNS): Marlon Dillon walked out of the courtroom on Thursday after giving evidence for the crown for what is likely to be the last time, facing an uncertain future. Over the last three years Dillon has given evidence against a number of men he claims were his accomplices in two armed robberies and he has also testified in a murder trial. Originally from Jamaica, Dillon is now facing deportation from Cayman, and promises he claimed were made to him by the local authorities in exchange for his cooperation may not be fulfilled.His family were relocated to the UK under a protection programme when Dillon first began naming names in what he has claimed was the criminal network he was associating with for the year before his arrest. However, during his time on the stand over the last nine days Dillon revealed that he is unable to join them.

Dillon has been giving evidence against four men charged with the June 2012 armed daylight heist at the Buckingham Square Branch of Cayman National Bank.

He was promised by the authorities that, once he was freed from jail following his own three-year prison term for his part in the crime, he would be able to go to Britain but his conviction has created difficulties.

Documents produced in the courts show that the police believe Dillon put his life on the line. Nevertheless, he has been refused a visa because of his conviction and the governor’s office has said it would be “challenging” for it to address that stumbling block.

As a Jamaican national who gained his status via marriage to a Caymanian, Dillon also revealed this week that he is now attempting to fight a deportation. It is no longer clear how he is being protected since he was released from his solitary jail cell at the George Town police station, where he was incarcerated in sub-human conditions for more than two and a half years.

Over the years the Cayman law enforcement authorities have come in for considerable criticisms as a result of their inability to manage protected witnesses properly. A catalogue of issues has been raised, from witnesses being shot while supposedly in safe houses, details of locations being leaked and the names of anonymous witnesses being accidentally released to legal defence teams, and the failure to protect former police officers involved in serious drug operations, are just some of the issues that have surrounded the limited witness protection programmes offered.

Although the police commissioner and the police management in general are constantly urging witnesses to come forward, when it comes to protecting citizens that do, the police have not always been able to fulfil their side of the bargain. While some of the problems are down to the very nature of a small jurisdiction and the challenges that presents, as well as the failure of some witnesses to follow protective protocols, some of the lapses in security are the fault of the authorities.

If Dillon is deported to his native Jamaica, it is very unlikely that the RCIPS will be able to protect him, despite the fact that there are Jamaican connections relating to the cases that Dillon has testified in.

Dillon’s story has changed on numerous occasions and under cross-examination and he has not always been able to clarify the contradictory and inconsistent claims. But under re-examination on Thursday by the crown, he insisted he was there to assist the court only and that there was no benefit to his now uncertain circumstances.

“I am not receiving anything in return to assist me in being reunited with my family,” he told the court Thursday. “But I believe I am doing the right thing and despite the situation I am in, I am willing to … assist the court.”

David Tamasa, Rennie Cole, George Mignott are all charged with the bank robbery and possession of imitation firearms based largely on the testimony of Dillon. However, the four men have all denied any part in the CNB hold up. They have suggested that, as former associates of Dillon, he named them when he came under pressure from police after he was caught red-handed instead of the real and very dangerous criminals.

Although the authorities charged Dillon and the four men currently on trial, Dillon also named a number of other accomplishes, including people inside the bank, but they were never charged.

The trial continues in Grand Court One with the crown’s police witnesses. The case is being heard by a twelve member jury and is presided over by Justice Ingrid Mangatal.