Guard flees deadly gunplay

AT FIRST it sounded like a “scratch-bomb.” But seconds later, it turned deadly. One security guard was shot and wounded. And within minutes, a 17-year-old youth was killed by police. All this happened within a short time at the International School at Westmoorings on November 20, 2002. The head of security at the International School related yesterday how one of his colleagues was shot by a gun-toting youth at the school. Anthony Ralph, who admitted to being an untrained security guard, tried unsuccessfully to restrain the youth, who raised his arm and shot another security guard, William Ramnarine, near the guard booth in front of the school.

Ralph said the youth with the gun ran into the school while he stopped a police vehicle with three officers and spoke to them. He led two of the officers up the stairs to the Commons Room before he beat a hasty retreat because he was unarmed, he had no bullet proof vest “and there was no reason for me to stay there.” He admitted to fleeing the scene. Ralph was the only witness to testify at the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of 17-year-old Phillip Seerattan, who was shot dead by police at the school on November 20, 2002. The inquest is being heard at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls, presiding as Coroner. Prior to testimony being given yesterday, the court visited the scene of the shooting at Westmoorings.

Patricia Roberts is looking after the interest of the Seerattan family, while Martin George represents two police officers — PC Gary Moore and WPC Saud Weekes. Lydia Mendonca appears for the International School with Inspector Lynette Fergu-sson as the court prosecutor. Hearing resumes this morning. Ralph, who was appointed head of security in July 2002, said he reported for duty at the International School at 11.30 am on November 20, 2002. He remembered that around 2.30 pm, he was in the office of the Business Manager when he heard a loud explosion. “I left the room to investigate and as I reached the front of the office area, I saw a young man standing between officer William Ramnar-ine and myself. Ramnar-ine was standing in front of the receptionist’s booth. “The guy (Phillip Seerattan) was dressed in all black. I approached and on reaching him, he raised his right arm and pointed the gun at Ramnarine. I heard a loud explosion. Ramnarine was shot. I held on to this guy by the shoulders. The gun was still in his hand. I shoved him, moved him away from Ramnarine and pushed him off.”

Ralph said the guy was still holding the gun. “The guy (Seerattan) turned around, looked at me and proceeded into the office area. The gun was still at his side. I allowed him to go.” At this point, the Coroner asked Ralph if he was the head of security at the school. “You just allowed him to go? Why did you not do something?” Mc Nicolls asked. Ralph said although he had been employed at Securicor for seven years, he has had no security training whatsoever. He then continued his evidence. Ralph said after Seerattan went into the school, he went to Ramnarine’s assistance and took him to the cafeteria. He met the principal, Barney Latham, and spoke to him. The head security officer also informed the guard at the entrance of what was happening. Ralph said he met an East Indian man, later identified as Seerattan’s father, coming up the driveway. He also noticed a police vehicle approaching. He spoke to two officers, namely Moore and Weekes, who were pointed out in court. “I told them that the guy was located in the Commons Room. We proceeded to that area. They had their firearms. The man was carrying a big gun and the woman a side firearm. I was in front of them. I pointed to the area and I gave them a layout of the room. I told them to be careful and I went back downstairs.”

Ralph said he returned to where the police vehicle was parked. About five minutes later, a student came downstairs. “I then heard several shots, it could be about five or six, I wasn’t really checking,” he told the Coroner. By that time, other police vehicles arrived on the scene and Ralph showed them where to go. He then went to the cafeteria and saw Ramnarine. His wounded colleague was being attended to by the school nurse and other teachers. The ambulance came and took Ramnarine away. Ralph said he never saw Seerattan again, neither did he see PCS Moore and Weekes.
Under cross-examination by Patricia Roberts, Ralph could not say if Ramnarine had issued a visitor’s pass to Seerattan on that fateful day. He contradicted his earlier statement by saying he heard the first explosion at 2.49 pm. Although he was a security guard, he admitted to having no knowledge of weapons. “I have knowledge of street sense,” he told the court. Ralph denied he was frightened that day, although he fled the upstairs section of the school leaving the two policemen to find Seerattan. I had no bullet-proof vest, I was unarmed, there was no reason for me to stay there. “