Based on a recently released autopsy report, Police officials have ruled out foul play in the death of prison officer Van Johnson, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime, Reginald Ferguson, told The Tribune yesterday.
Early last month Mr Johnson’s body was found sitting upright in his red Nissan truck at the entrance to Potter’s Cay dock.
Many persons, especially family members, had labelled his death “suspicious,” because of the controversy surrounding the deadly break-out from Fox Hill prison.
But, despite widespread speculation that Johnson’s death may have been a “hit” to keep him silent, Mr Ferguson said “there was nothing suspicious about the results.”
Mr Johnson had been implicated in the Coroner Court’s inquest into the deaths of a prison officer and an inmate when a witness alleged that he had supplied instruments to facilitate the prison break in January.
During the Coroner’s inquest in April, inmate Barry Parcoi testified that Mr Johnson was the officer who smuggled hacksaw blades into the prison to help him, Neil Brown, Corey Hepburn and Forrester Bowe escape on January 17.
Well placed sources told The Tribune that many factors contributed to Mr. Johnson’s death. Coronary artery disease was among them.
Prison officials meantime are planning a military state service for Johnson, which is scheduled for Saturday at the New Destiny Baptist Church, Blue Hill Road.
By RAYANNE FARBES-DARVILLE
Editor’s Note: Typically outrageous behaviour on the part of the Bahamas government. Van Johnson should be prosecuted in abstentia, rather than receiving a state funeral.
