Man in court for 4 murders

Zwade Gomez, of Trou Macaque Road, Laventille, had first appeared on Monday in “late court” before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Magistrates’ Court because his attorney Wayne Sturge was concerned about injuries he said Gomez sustained at the hands of the police.

The charge read against Gomez alleges that he murdered Sutherland, 47, her husband Ivan, 48, their daughter Anika, 23 and family friend Kevin Surrette, 33.

Wearing a red tee-shirt and blue jeans, Gomez stood in the prisoners’ dock as Sturge asked Lee Kim to make a special note of the prisoner’s apparent injuries, in particular his left eye and jaw. Sturge claimed that a medical report dated March 22 “inaccurately” reflected Gomez’s injuries, pointing out that the examining doctor at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital had mis-spelt Gomez’s name and had examined Gomez on the basis of information provided to him by police.

This doctor, Sturge furthermore claimed, was not in medical attire and had examined Gomez from five-ten feet away.

Sturge pointed out the prisoner’s blood-shot eyes and asked Lee Kim to give an “ocular inspection” of the prisoner for the purpose of the record, in the event that the medical report’s evidentiary admissibility is challenged at some stage in the future. Sturge lamented that “so much time has passed” since the infliction of the injuries.

Lee Kim noted that, “the common cold also causes bloodshot eyes,” but nonetheless went on to direct police prosecutor acting Sgt Anand Ramesar to observer the prisoner’s condition. Ramesar indicated that it appeared as though the accused eyes seemed “slightly red.” Sturge went on to ask for full disclosure from the prosecution of all relevant documents in the matter including post-mortem reports and the warrant of arrest. Lee Kim ordered that “the usual documents” be disclosed and asked Ramesar to liaise with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to get the matter ready for trial as soon as possible. It is expected that the hearing of evidence in the inquiry will be expedited.

The Sutherland family was at home on the evening of January 22 when four masked gunmen stormed their Pelican Extension Road, Morvant, home and shot them execution style. A grandchild, who managed to hide from the attackers, survived and was later discovered in the house.

Hours after the brutal slayings, Tor “Cat” John, a reported suspect in the murders, was killed by police officers during an exchange of gunfire at his home on Trou Macaque Road.