PSNI officer denies threat of ‘good kicking’ to trial witness

A PSNI officer has denied threatening to take a prosecution witness in the trial of a Derry man accused of murdering a pregnant woman into a room and give him a “good kicking”.

Stephen Cahoon (43), of Harvey Street, Derry, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jean Teresa Quigley (30) at Cornshell fields in Derry on July 26th, 2008.

Prosecution counsel Patricia McLaughlin BL on Thursday called Det Sgt Geoffrey Hobson, who was involved in the investigation into the killing of Ms Quigley, to give evidence at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

On Tuesday, prosecution counsel Patrick Marrinan SC read two statements via video-link to prosecution witness James Casey, who was giving evidence from Glasgow High Court. The court heard Mr Casey previously gave these statements to police in Derry on July 29th, 2008.

Under cross-examination, Mr Casey told defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC he had a conviction for wasting police time.

On Thursday, Det Sgt Hobson told the court he had cause to interview Mr Casey on July 29th, 2008 as he had “voluntarily” attended Strand Road police station.

‘Told to tell the truth’

Det Sgt Hobson then told counsel that Mr Casey had attended the station as a witness and the policeman had a discussion with him where he was “told to tell the truth”.

On Tuesday, the jury heard when Mr Casey was again interviewed on August 1st, 2008 he told the police that detectives previously had threatened to take him into a room and give him a “good kicking”.

Det Sgt Hobson on Thursday denied this happened.

“Mr Casey alleged that I threatened him, he could have taken that out of context. I believe he did make a complaint the next day to other officers,” Det Sgt Hobson said.

Mr O’Higgins asked Det Sgt Hobson was there a method to file a complaint if a member of the public complains of allegedly being threatened by police.

“The Ombudsman investigates alleged bad behaviour by police but this complaint was not brought to his attention. If a complaint is made during interview it is up to [the] complainant to go to [the] authorities to follow the complaint through,” he replied.

Returned next day

Det Sgt Hobson then told the court Mr Casey had left the police station without complaint and returned the following day.

Mr O’Higgins asked the officer if there was information relayed to Mr Casey “continuously throughout the questions”, which Det Sgt Hobson agreed there was.

The court heard that thereafter Det Sgt Hobson did not take part in any other interviews with Mr Casey.

The trial continues.