Two police officers were charged yesterday with manslaughter in the 2013 custody death of 20-year-old Aaron Rolle. Akiel Smith, 28, of South Beach and Carl Smith, 32, of Pinewood Gardens, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on the third anniversary of Rolle's death at the Southern Police Station.

The officers were placed on paid administrative leave after Rolle died in the lock up at the station on Quakoo Street. Rolle died from a ruptured intestine, the result of blunt force trauma to the torso, according to a pathologist. Rolle, of Ross Corner, was being held on suspicion of housebreaking and armed robbery at the time of his death. The officers were not required to enter pleas to the manslaughter charge. They make their next court appearance on March 23 when it is expected that the matter will be forwarded to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment.

In his application for bail, their lawyer Wayne Munroe, QC argued that the men, who are still serving officers, had remained in the country following a coroner's inquest and an appeal. Ferguson-Pratt set bail at $18,000 each with no reporting conditions for the officers after noting the age of the matter, that the accused are police officers and there was no objection to bail from the Crown. A coroner's jury ruled Rolle's death an unlawful killing.

The verdict was set aside on appeal last year as it was not a finding available to the jury under the Coroner's Act.

A police officer escorts Carl Smith (center) to court yesterday.

A police officer escorts Akiel Smith (left) out of court yesterday. Photos: Ahvia J. Bethel

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