Cop and teen were in a struggle

ICE CREAM vendor Peggy-Ann Eligon yesterday testified that she saw Special Reserve Police Constable Nicholas Leith holding teenager Aneisha Neptune in a “head lock,” during a scuffle which ended in the teen being shot and killed. Eligon also said that she heard a “pop” and when she looked in the direction of the noise she saw Neptune fall to the pavement at Morne Coco Road in Diego Martin. Eligon was giving evidence before Justice Carlton Best in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court where Leith is charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Neptune, which occurred a stone’s throw away from the Four Roads Police Station on May 1, 2000.

Eligon, a vendor, told the court that the incident occurred while she was washing some buckets she had earlier used for storing ice cream when the incident occurred. She told the court that she heard the “pop” and saw Aneisha drift backwards before falling to the ground, after which she heard Aneisha’s mother Mary Molly cry out, “Oh God, you shoot my daughter,” and hold on to Aneisha. She said officers from the Four Roads Police Station arrived on the scene and took Mary Molly by her hands and feet to the police station. When Molly was moved Aneisha’s body rolled off the pavement and landed in the drain. Cpl Dass gave evidence and told the court that he arrested Simon Neptune for obscene language and resisting arrest and took him to the Four Roads Police Station around 7.45 pm. Around 10 pm, Aneisha and some others came to the station and PCs Pierre and Carracilo spoke to them.

Around 10.45 pm, Leith returned to the station with Mary Molly and told him that while arresting Aneisha for obscene language Mary Molly held on to him. Dass said that Leith had swelling on his neck and bruises to his foot. He was sent to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for a check-up. Leith also handed over his revolver and five live rounds of .38 ammunition and one spent shell of .38 ammunition. Under cross-examination, he explained that Leith showed him a bite mark on his elbow. Other witnesses to testify included fire officer Barry Williams, Ag Insp Wayne Dick and Special Reserve Police Charmaine King. The hearing of the trial continues today. Attorneys Alexander Prince and Jerron Joseph are representing the State, while  Israel Khan SC and Ulric Skerritt are representing Leith.