Investigator testifies

ASP Terrence Badall was yesterday “demoted” from investigator to secretary by attorney Patricia Roberts. Roberts, who is seeking the interest of the Seerattan family at the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Phillip Seerattan, told Badall, “You didn’t do any investigation in the matter. You were merely a secretary, collecting papers.” Badall was the investigating officer in the November 20, 2002 shooting at the International School in Westmoorings in which 17-year-old Phillip Seerattan was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with police. He was giving evidence at the inquest, which is being heard at the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court before Coroner Sherman McNicolls.

Badall said that when he had arrived at the school on the day in question, Seerattan had already been injured after a shootout with PC Gary Moore and WPC Suad Weekes. The teenager had earlier entered the school’s compound armed with his father’s Smith and Wesson pistol and shot a security guard. “Did you take a statement from Moore?” Roberts inquired, to which Badall responded, “He gave me a report.” “You never interrogated him,” Roberts stated, “You don’t even know his body position when he returned fire because you did not conduct an investigation,” she added. Badall, however, insisted that he had “investigated thoroughly.”  He said he had visited the crime scene, interviewed several people, including Moore and Weekes, witnessed the autopsy on Seerattan’s body at the Forensic Science Centre and done all the other relevant things that constituted a proper investigation. Badall will return to the witness stand on Friday to be further cross-examined by Roberts. Attorney Martin George is representing Moore and Weekes and Lydia Mendonca is seeking the interest of the school. Acting Insp Kenneth Cordner is representing the State.