‘Corporal’s actions made no sense’

A POLICE officer acting in the capacity of corporal yesterday said he saw PC Gary Moore, one of the subjects of the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Phillip Seerattan, holding the firearm allegedly used by the youth to shoot at police. However, he could not give the location from which he (Moore) had retrieved the pistol.

Acting Cpl Theophilus Babb was giving evidence at the inquest, which was being heard at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Eighth Court, with Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls presiding as Coroner. Seerattan, then 17, was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with police at the International School, Westmoorings on November 20, 2002. He had earlier entered the school’s compound armed with his father’s firearm, and had shot a security guard. Under interrogation by Mc Nicolls and Patricia Roberts, attorney seeking the interest of the Seerattan family, Babb told the court he entered the school’s computer room approximately two to three minutes after he had heard a “burst of shots.” He said he saw Seerattan lying face down on the floor and Moore with a MP5 strapped across his chest and the 9mm pistol that had allegedly been used by Seerattan in his (Moore’s) hand.

He did not see when the officer had picked up the gun, he added. He said he did not question Moore’s action because according to police protocol, “During a shooting, an officer is expected to secure the weapon if the condition of the assailant is undetermined.” He said although the teenager was on the floor, he was still breathing because he could see the “rise and fall of his back.” There was blood around the youth, he said, but there were no visible signs of injuries. Despite this, Roberts chastised Babb for not exercising more authority and neglecting to question Moore and the other officer involved, WPC Suad Weekes, about what had occurred in the room prior to his arrival. Mc Nicolls too felt that Babb’s actions did “not make any sense.” When he heard the gunshots, Babb continued, he had been a short distance away from the area from which the shots rang out. He could not, however, recall how many shots he had heard. 

According to Babb, he called out to Moore and Weekes and he got a response that “all is clear.”  He could not remember which one of the officers had answered, he said. About five minutes after he had entered the computer room that was occupied by only Moore, Weekes, Seerattan and himself, Babb said he proceeded downstairs with the intention of barring unauthorised persons from entering the room and contaminating it. On his way down the steps, he said, he met Sgt Ramsubhag, Seerattan’s father, Jagoonanan Seerattan, and a party of officers ascending the stairs. He told them there had been a shooting upstairs but that “everything was under control.”

An ambulance came some time after and transported the injured teen to the hospital, he said.  Shortly after, Babb said, Moore, Weekes, himself and other officers were instructed to return to the St James Police Station and await further instructions. The three remaining formal witnesses to give evidence include Weekes, Moore and ASP Badall. Hearing will continue on December 15, when it is expected that the exhibits from the Forensic Science Centre will be made available. Weekes and Moore were represented by attorney Martin George. Lydia Mendonca is seeking the interest of the school.