A witness’ life of crime

Briggs, 38, told the jury of his life of crime, but pointed out that he spent five years in prison for a crime he never committed.

Briggs had given evidence-in-chief that he witnessed the beating of prisoner Anton Cooper by several prison officers on June 25, 2001. Two of the officers named are on trial — Devindra Ramdial and Ansen Griffith. Yesterday, Briggs was cross-examined by Ramdial’s attorney Prakash Ramadhar.

Briggs said the story he gave to the court on the events of June 25, 2001 was true. As far as he was concerned, he is no longer a criminal. He started his life of crime at age 15, and left the penal institution on February 10 this year.

His first offence was larceny in San Fernando, but he could not remember what he stole. His next brush with the law was in 1988 for firearm-related offences, such as robbery and attempted robbery. He said he never robbed anyone, that is why he was acquitted.

He admitted holding a gun in his past for his protection and to commit a robbery. But he said some of the allegations made against him in the past were false. He said he was innocent and he was aware that innocent persons can be wrongly accused.

Briggs admitted being charged with four offences involving a firearm. He pleaded guilty to some and he was acquitted on the others. He said he was also convicted in the High Court for possession of a firearm. "The jury found me guilty, even though I was innocent. The gun was never produced in court," he added.

He said he was also charged with robbery with violence concerning a vehicle, but denied involvement in that crime. He admitted to being charged with wounding with intent. "I was not really innocent. I know about the matter, I was not really involved. It was a chopping incident. I was also charged with shooting with intent, and I was acquitted."

Briggs continued, "I felt badly when I was wrongly convicted. It was a conspiracy against me. Two magistrates were involved, along with two members of the underworld, Bombist and Yellows. I told the magistrate what she had done. I told her I was going to appeal, she told me to go ahead, that I will win my case. I appealed at the prison, but it was never filed."

Briggs said the prison authorities victimised him by not sending the appeal.

Ramadhar questioned Briggs on the "camera" device which he brought to court on Tuesday. He said the one produced in court belonged to him, unlike the one he used to see the beating of Cooper. He said that device was left in the cell by prisoners who occupied there before him.

Briggs said if he was caught with that device, he could have been in trouble.

He said the prison officers could have made him file down the sharpened point to make it blunt. "I could have been charged, I could have been given bread with porridge with salt in it, I could have been given bread and water with dumplings. I did not like that."

Briggs said he alone did not see what happened to Cooper. "If all the prisoners come to court and say what happened...if they are brave enough." Briggs denied he was a prison hater. He also denied that he wanted to "bring down" the whole prison. He said about eight to nine prison officers took part in the beating of the prisoner.

In answer to the defence attorney, Briggs said he had four motives for giving evidence, but he only shared one with the DPP’s department.

Briggs said he made allegations against the two accused, and twice against police officers. He did admit that there were some prisoners who hated the penal institution, society, everything, including themselves.

"I felt aggrieved spending five years of my life in prison when I was innocent. I never had any cause to hate prison. I had no cause to hate prison officers. Prison is a very dangerous place, that is why we had weapons. I was charged with wounding someone in prison. I recalled disarming an inmate and wounding him with his own weapon.

"He came to feed me when I was in witness protection. Yes, his name was Keston Brown. The inmate attacked me, I took the weapon and wounded the inmate."

Briggs said he was in some sort of protective custody since the start of this trial. He said he asked for it upon his release from prison. He said special arrangements were made when the trial started as he was not interested in going to a safe house.

Briggs denied destroying prison windows on November 30, 2002. He also denied that he attempted to burn down the prison. He said he never set fire to his mattress. He said the reason he was removed from his cell was because he was attacked by a prison officer.

The witness said he was never charged with that offence. Instead, the officer was warned and told to stay away from Briggs.

Before Griffith’s attorney Gilbert Petersen SC could start his cross-examination, Justice Malcolm Holdip indicated to the court that the staff at the Hall of Justice was leaving at midday due to the warning of Tropical Storm Emily.

Hearing resumes this morning.