Cop in Matelot murder trial to know fate today

HIGH COURT Judge Herbert Volney is expected to deliver the closing summation today in the trial in which Police Constable Mihiset Green is charged with the shooting death of Matelot resident Neil Sutherland. Sutherland was allegedly shot and killed following a police raid at his brother’s house at Marcelle Trace in Matelot in April 1995. At yesterday’s sitting, defence attorney SC Pamela Elder and State Prosecutor George Busby went over the evidence that was presented to the court over the last 16 days in support of both the defence and State’s case.

During the trial the State took evidence from nine witnesses including Sutherland’s father St Clair Sutherland and his brother Ricky. In closing, Busby called on the members of the jury to look carefully at the evidence that was presented to them in the trial in making their decision. He explained that if after they perused the evidence they were convinced that the accused was guilty, then the only verdict they could return was a guilty one. However, if they were not sure then they must return a not guilty verdict. In her closing, Elder reminded the jury that the burden was on the prosecution to present evidence that was beyond a reasonable doubt.

She called on the jury to take note of the types of crimes that were taking place in our society today, stating that the crime wave in society needed officers that were strong and able to do their jobs. She called on them to consider whether they wanted men or mice as officers and noted that if an officer could not use the weapons issued to them when faced with a potentially dangerous situation, then they should be issued caps guns and rubber bullets. The evidence that was lead by Busby stated that Greene and SRP Yorke were on foot patrol in the Matelot district around 8.20 pm on April 14, 1995, when they had cause to arrest Arthur Hamlet for marijuana possession.

The officers returned to the station around 9.45 pm and reported “a drug play” in a certain area. Cpl Morris dispatched Greene, Yorke and PC Campbell, armed with two SLRs and a revolver. Ricky, Neil, Maquis Romaine and Carmel Noel were listening to music when the officers entered the house and Greene placed a gun to Neil’s neck. A scuffle ensued between the two, spilled over in to the yard and ended when the duo rolled down an incline at the back of the house. During this, Ricky was being held down by Campbell. At the bottom of the hill, Greene began searching for something and Neil ran. Greene picked up the SLR and fired a shot in the air. He then returned to the house and, accompanied by the other officers, left to take Ricky to the police station. On the way down, they saw Neil enter Marcelle Trace from the main road and approach them saying “let go my brother, he ent do nothing.” At this point, Greene fired a shot from the SLR striking Neil who fell on to the road. Neil was rushed to the Toco Health Facility and then to the Sangre Grande General Hospital.

Ricky was taken to the Matelot Police Station. At the police station, a cutlass was given to Morris. Greene reported to Morris that Ricky had told Neil to go for a gun and when Neil returned he (Greene) saw something resembling a gun in his hands and, fearing for his life and that of his fellow officers and prisoner, he had fired his SLR. The matter continues today in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court. Elder is being assisted in the matter by Owen Hinds Jr, while Busby is representing the State.