Mom: Cops want to kill us

Eudris Jack, mother of prisoner Aleem Hosein, told Sunday Newsday that since the shooting she has received threats that further harm will come to her son and to her. "Police said they want to dismantle my son.

My child is only 17 years old. The police are only coming after the smaller ones, and putting things in the youths’ head. But they need to go after big criminals," Jack said.

Hosein was shot in his leg around 7 pm on Wednesday night at Coora Road, Siparia, after he allegedly escaped police custody earlier in the day.

Hosein and another prisoner were being escorted into the Siparia Magistrates’ Court when they allegedly ran away from police. The two prisoners were recaptured later that day. According to police reports, Hosein was allegedly hiding at Coora Road, Siparia, when around 7 pm he, swinging a cutlass, charged at two police officers.

Police reports indicate that police fired a shot towards him and he was hit in the leg.

The teenaged prisoner was taken into custody and warded at the San Fernando General Hospital under police guard. Hosein appeared in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the offence of escaping lawful custody, and was remanded into custody pending a trace of his criminal records.

Yesterday, a villager who claimed she witnessed when Hosein was shot painted a different picture of the incident. The villager, who wished to remain anonymous, said some eight policemen came to Coora Road in search of the teenager. "He (Hosein) did not have any cutlass," the villager said.

"He was behind a house when police went for him. I heard three shots, and he bawl ‘oh God!’ and fell into a river.

"The police beat and dragged him through the river before they pull him out. I say they want him to bleed to death."

The villager said it was Hosein’s aunt that telephoned the Emergency Health Services for an ambulance.

The villager who went to the San Fernando Hospital to wait for Hosein to arrive, said he was brought an hour and 20 minutes after the shooting.

Jack claimed that the policeman who shot her son had previously levelled threats against them. The mother said she is worried that her son will not come out of prison alive. "I am pleading with the Commissioner of Police to help me and my son.

I am in fear for my life and my son’s, with this police officer around. I am begging for help because the police is trying to cover this up," said Jack.