Above: the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF)

By Alexander Britell

A total of five Grenadian police officers have now been charged with manslaughter in the death of Grenadian native and Canadian resident Oscar Bartholomew, his family’s lawyer, Derick Sylvester, confirmed to Caribbean Journal today.

“Two officers had been charged, and an additional three have just been charged,” attorney Derick Sylvester told Caribbean Journal.

Sylvester also said the family planned to file a civil lawsuit over the matter.

“Absolutely, without a doubt,” he said.

According to several accounts, the incident occurred on Boxing Day when Bartholomew hugged a plainclothes female police officer he believed was a longtime acquaintance — a struggle then ensued, and Bartholomew was thereafter taken away by several other officers and taken in to the St David’s police station.

His family alleges that police officers beat him, causing his death.

He was later taken to the hospital, according to reports, and died after falling into a coma.

Junior officers Kenton Hazzard and Wendell Sylvester were first charged yesterday, and officers Edward Gibson, Shaun Ganness and Ruddy Felix have now also been charged.