Judge prays for shot bodyguard

JUSTICE HERBERT Volney said yesterday he is praying for the recovery of his injured bodyguard PC Derrick Nelson, who was shot five times near a bridge in Couva and left for dead on Saturday night. “He is a man in the cradle of God’s hands,” a solemn Justice Volney said. The judge expressed concern for his bodyguard, taking a brief moment from proceedings in the San Fernando First Criminal Assizes as attorneys at the bar inquired about the officer’s condition. “He seems to be in a great deal of pain. I could only tell him that my prayers are with him at this time,” Justice Volney said. Yesterday San Fernando General Hospital authorities implemented restrictions on visitors to the critically injured policeman. Even police colleagues were turned away from seeing PC Nelson, as he lay on a hospital bed with IV drips connected to his body. However Justice Volney was allowed to visit his bodyguard yesterday.

PC Nelson, who is attached to Special Branch,  had been assigned to Justice Volney for the past six years. Justice Volney told Newsday he was informed that Nelson underwent “life-saving” surgery on Sunday night and was “a long way from recovery.” PC Nelson underwent a colostomy since the bullet wound to his groin resulted in perforation of his bowels. Doctors are also trying to stablise his condition before attempting to repair the fractures to his  legs. Nelson began working as Justice Volney’s police escort in 1996 during a prominent High Court murder trial. On Saturday night, however, the 36-year-old policeman was the victim of a brutal attack by bandits. He managed to escape by jumping off a bridge, landing 20 feet below into the Couva River. Nelson was driving along Milton Road, Couva, when bandits shot at his vehicle and forced him off the road. They robbed him of his loaded nine millimetre service revolver, cash and jewelry. Passersby rushed the policeman to the Couva District Hospital and he was later transferred to San Fernando General Hospital. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and Couva police are continuing investigations.