JOHN Luke Davies’ demotion from police inspector to sergeant is to remain in effect, the local appellate court ruled on Wednesday.

Davies, who joined the constabulary in 1971 and was promoted to the rank of inspector in 1993, used to be stationed at the Central Police Station in Kingston.

He was demoted on March 16, 2000, following charges that he failed to record a number of items of jewellery that he took from one Karlene King, whom he had detained for questioning.

King, whose common-law husband, Raphael Bell, was killed by gunmen on April 20, 1993, was detained for approximately three months before being released.

According to the complaint recorded in court documents, Davies failed to return some of the jewellery he took from her upon detention.

Davies was also accused of unlawfully seizing from King’s home, a Toyota minibus which had nothing to do with the investigation into Bell’s death.

On August 14, 2000, five months after he was demoted, Davies issued a summons in the Supreme Court for leave to apply for an order of certiorari to quash the Police Services Division’s decision to demote him.

This was turned down by Supreme Court Judge Hazle Harris, who pointed out that he was not entitled to such a remedy.

The local appeal court, which was asked by Davies’ lawyer, Arthur Kitchin, to overturn Justice Harris’ decision, refused after two days of hearing.