Murder accused claims cops whipped him

MURDER ACCUSED Anthony Amoorgan claimed the police beat him with a “jab-jab whip” and threatened to place his children in an orphanage if he did not confess to the murder of Ramcoomar Ramoutar. Armoogan is before Justice Prakash Moosai in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court jointly charged with Michael Ramdawar for murdering Ramoutar at Carlsen Field, Chaguanas, on February 22, 1997. Ramoutar died as a result of blood loss from gunshot wounds to his knees.

Amoorgan told the court yesterday that PC Phillip Pitt (now deceased) handcuffed him, took him to Bamboo Settlement, Valsayn, and beat him. He said he was then taken to the Chaguanas Police Station, then Pitt and other officers took him to Old Southern Main Road, Chaguanas, and showed him Ramoutar’s house. He said two women at the house said he did not look like the man who had kidnapped Ramoutar. Amoorgan also said when he was being carried for an identification parade, he saw the same two women and two other people in the corridor. He said he later learnt that the four persons he saw in the corridor identified him.

Under cross-examination by State attorney Cherron Raphael, Amoorgan said he never gave a statement to the police. He said he never told the Justice of the Peace Jacqueline Sergeant that he was beaten by the police because he was afraid. He said he was not informed that the JP was there to protect his rights. Amoorgan denied going to Ramoutar’s house and telling Ramdawar to tie up everyone. He said he never dragged Ramoutar into a car with his legs tied, his hands tied behind his back and his mouth gagged. He also denied shooting Ramoutar in both knees. Amoorgan is represented by attorney Selwyn Mohammed and Owen Hinds Jr, while Ramdawar is being represented by attorney Om Lalla and Shastri Roberts. When hearing continues today Ramdawar will give evidence.