Witness never complained of murder

The conduct of six police officers is under review in a shooting incident in which Baptiste and Bagoo were shot five and six times respectively.

Frederick, who was detailed to investigate the shootings, also denied other allegations made by Bagoo while testifying before Gonzales yesterday.

Bagoo earlier testified that Baptiste had been shot dead and he (Bagoo) wounded by police bullets when a party of policemen raided his one-room shack at about 4 am on March 21, 2000, at Maturita Village. At the time, Bagoo had escaped police custody, and was in hiding.

He said he heard Sgt Neville White’s voice calling him to come out with his hands up in the air.

Bagoo said he opened the door very slowly and put his hands into the air. He saw White with a gun in his right hand and a flashlight in his left.

Bagoo said he was about three feet away from White with his hands up in the air, when he was shot in the left chest.

He said he fell to the ground. White stepped over him, rushed into the house and he heard two more shots. Some other men rushed into the room and he heard about three more shots. Bagoo said Baptiste was on the bed bleeding and screaming.

Bagoo also testified that he heard footsteps coming from the house and while he was on the ground he was shot again and pretended to be dead. He and Baptiste were taken to the Arima District Hospital.

He survived, but Baptiste died.

The officers are being represented by attorneys Israel Khan SC, Ulric Skerritt and Debra James.

Bagoo had also testified that he told Frederick that all the other policemen wore masks, while White’s face was bare. However, Frederick denied this under cross-examination by Khan.

The lawmen claimed that they acted in self-defence. When they raided the hut, Bagoo had a hand gun while Baptiste had a home-made shotgun.

Gonzales is expected to complete the inquest on November 10.