Gunshots killed Barataria handyman

Slain Barataria handyman Roger Alexander died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, although he smoked marijuana and had chronic lung disease because of his smoking. These were the findings of pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes, during his post-mortem examination of Alexander’s body. He revealed his findings to the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court yesterday in which five men are on trial for Alexander’s murder. Junior Rowley, the father of one of the five murder accused, testified that his son Ronald Gaskin is a “good and respectful boy” who limed with the boys on the block, including the other four accused.

Garvin Sookram aka “Bean,” John Wayne Alleyne aka “Bumbles,” Junior Sookram aka “Country,” Hassan Sanchez and Gaskin aka “Doom,” are before Justice Rajendra Narine  charged with the murder of Alexander aka “One Arm,” on August 19, 2000 in Barataria. When hearing resumed after the lunch break yesterday, special prosecutor Rangie Dolsingh SC told the court that the prisoners have not yet had their lunch because of its late arrival.

As a result it was agreed that hearing should be adjourned for the day so that the prisoners could have lunch. Des Vignes confirmed that Alexander, 34, a father of one of Eighth Avenue in Barataria, was shot from behind four times. He said the fatal bullet entered Alexander’s head from the back left side,  travelled a bit downwards and lodged itself on the left side of his face, adjacent to the nose. The bullet fractured the skull, causing bleeding to the brain. Death was within a few seconds. Des Vignes retrieved that bullet, but another bullet, which entered the left back, moved upwards,  damaging the aorta artery and lodged itself in the backbone, became fragmented and was not retrieved. A third bullet entered the back of the neck and exited the other side. A fourth entered the left lower chest, moved upwards and inwards, and exited through the front of the right chest.

There was extensive questioning by defence attorney Osbourne Charles SC over  Des Vignes’ failure to have the deceased’s blood analysed to determine its blood group. Charles also cross-examined Des Vignes about his failure to list the time of death. Des Vignes explained that certain portfolios are followed depending on the particular case. In this matter, he explained that the information he had from the police at the time did not, in his opinion, necessitate a blood grouping analysis. In his report, Des Vignes did give an approximate time of death from when the body was recovered, but not from when killed. He also explained that the doctor on the scene first examining the body would be in a better position to make such a finding. But once the body is refrigerated, the telltale signs no longer exist. Charles was not satisfied with this answer and indicated to the court that he would like to recall Des Vignes on another occasion to continue his cross-examination on this issue. During Charles’ cross-examination of Des Vignes, there were some enthusiastic exchanges between Dolsingh and Charles. 

Rowley, a city tailor who lives on a track just off Small Street in Barataria, told the court that on the morning of August 20, he saw something resembling blood on the track at the back of his house. He explained that the blood-like substance attracted flies and he washed it away with a bucket of water. He said the police came later to find out who washed away the blood. Under cross-examination by attorney Margaret Rose, who represents Gaskin, Rowley explained that Gaskin did not live at his home, but that his son respected him and was a good boy who ran a small parlour with his mother Susan.

While being re-examined by Dolsingh, who leads senior prosecutor Jeron Joseph, Rowley, the seventh State witness to give evidence, admitted that his son associated with other boys from the area, and that the other accused were his friends. Acting ASP Mitchell Manswell also testified that he had discovered Alexander’s body wrapped in a bed sheet at the Barataria recreation ground. Manswell was attending a sports meeting with his family when he saw the body at about 11.40 am on August 20. Cpl Raymond Austin said he arrested Junior Sookram on August 23. Garvin Sookram is being defended by Pamela Elder SC and Owen Hinds Jr, Alleyne by Charles SC  and Elvis O’Connor, Junior Sookram by Sean Cazabon and Dawn Mohan, Sanchez by Keith Scotland and Nadia Astraph, and Gaskin by Margaret Rose and Richard Mason.
Hearing continues today.