Cop and lawyer disagree on process of interviewing witnesses

Acting Inspector Suzette Martin was being cross-examined by attorney, Wayne Sturge, who questioned her about the procedures she adopted, and the guidelines she followed, when she interviewed the State’s main witness, Keon Gloster in 2007. Martin also took several statements from Gloster. She insisted in her testimony yesterday Gloster was not a suspect, although he was told of his rights and privileges, before she first interviewed him in May, 2007.

She also said the interview notes taken of that interview were also authenticated by a Justice of the Peace, to show what procedures were adopted during the session, and that the interview was given voluntarily. There were several heated sessions during Martin’s cross-examination as she accused Sturge of disrespecting her in the way he posed his questions, while he accused her of avoiding to answer what she was asked by him. There were exchanges between Sturge and co-lead prosecutor Gilbert Peterson, SC, who was accused by the lawyer of objecting to questions posed to Martin, to distract the jury from her testimony.

Martin returns today to continue her cross examination. Naipaul-Coolman, 52, was kidnapped from the driveway of her Lange Park, Chaguanas, home on December 19, 2006. A ransom demand was made for her safe release and some of it was paid, but she was not freed. Her body was never found.

On trial are Shervon “Buffy” Peters; Keida Garcia, Marlon “Mad Man Marlon” Trimmingham; Earl “Bobo” Trimmingham; Ronald “22” Armstrong; Antonio “Hedges” Charles; Joel “Ninja” Fraser; Lyndon “Iron” James; Allan “Scanny” Martins; Devon “Blackboy” Peters; Anthony Dwayne Gloster, also called Anthony Peters and Jamile “WASA” Garcia.