The family of the convicted drugs importer who accused six former narcotics officers of beating him in custody is considering launching civil proceedings against the officers following their acquittal in Magistrates? Court.

Former Dunkley?s Dairy employee Michael Madeiros was sent to prison for ten years in May after being found guilty of conspiring to import more than $2 million worth of cannabis in a dairy container in March, 2003.

But his trial was overshadowed by allegations of Police brutality which ultimately resulted in all Police evidence being excluded before the Supreme Court proceedings got underway.

Madeiros claimed he was subjected to repeated beatings at his former residence on Belmer Drive in Devonshire and at the Prospect narcotics office which left him with heavy bruising to his face, back, side and buttocks and blood coming from his left ear.

Det. Cons. David Bhagwan, Antoine Fox, Allan Miguel, Mitchell, Andrew Woolridge and Jamiko Tucker were subsequently charged with assault causing bodily harm on Madeiros, although they were found not guilty last week at the conclusion of a stormy and protracted trial ? with Mr. Warner labelling the accuser a liar with an agenda.

Speaking to , Madeiros? mother June North said Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ?accepted in his verdict that Michael had gone into custody with not a scratch on him and had come out three days later covered in bruises and a bleeding ear? but then acquitted the officers.

She said she was disappointed with Mr. Warner?s decision to exclude two pillars of the prosecution?s case from evidence.

They were photographs of Madeiros taken on the day he was released from custody by his wife ? which showed heavy bruising to his face, side and buttocks ? and the testimony of psychiatrist Sanath Anandagoda, who treated Madeiros for post traumatic stress disorder for several months after the alleged ordeal.

But Mr. Warner refused to allow the photographs into evidence, ruling he could not be certain of their authenticity since they had been taken by the wife on her digital camera and downloaded on the Madeiros? home computer ? while the testimony of Mr. Anandagoda was deemed irrelevant to the charge.

The defence team of Allan Doughty and Larry Scott have told that Mr. Warner was simply following the letter of the law, but Mrs. North still said she was disappointed with the decision.

?Those two decisions were a major blow to our case,? she said.

Mrs. North also said the officers created an intimidating atmosphere in the courtroom.

Madeiros? wife Lisa was similarly unhappy with the verdict, and also expressed disappointment that the photographs she took were excluded from the evidence. ?All I know is that Michael did not leave the house with those bruises on him in the morning (Friday) and the following Monday when he was released on bail from the Hamilton Police Station he was covered in bruises and blood from his ear,? she said.

The family is now considering other legal options and the launch of a civil suit has not been ruled out.

Attempts to find out whether the Department of Public Prosecutions will be making an appeal against the decision have proven unsuccessful while Mr. Warner himself did not return phone calls by presstime last night.