‘Quiet’ gunman shot guard in face

TEENAGER Phillip Seerattan, described as a “very, very quiet” person, shot security guard William Ramnarine in the face and hip when he was confronted near the guard booth of the International School at Westmoorings on November 20, 2002. Ramnarine, who is still employed at the school, told a Coroner’s Inquest yesterday that when he saw Seerattan on that fateful day, he felt his life was threatened. He said he ran when he saw the gun.  “I was in fear for my life then,” he told Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. Ramnarine said he was in a lot of pain after he was shot in the face. The security officer said Seerattan caused him to fear for his life. “I did nothing for Phillip Seerattan to shoot me. I did not provoke him. I did not know him before that day. I don’t know why he shot me. I have never found a reason why he shot me.”

Coroner Mc Nicolls is inquiring into the death of 18-year-old Seerattan who was shot dead by the police at the International School at Westmoorings. Patricia Roberts is looking after the interest of the Seerattan family. Martin George represents the two police officers involved in the shooting — PC Gary Moore and WPC Saud Weekes. Lydia Mendonca appears for the International School, while Sgt Kenneth Cordner is the court representative. Hearing resumes this morning. Ramnarine, who lives at Charlieville, said he reported for work at the International School at 6 am on November 20, 2002. He said that around 3 pm, a man dressed in black and carrying a black knap sack came to the security booth where he was stationed. The guy, identified as Seerattan, came to collect his SAT results. After a conversation lasting some 15 seconds, Ramnarine said he issued Seerattan with a visitor’s pass. Ramnarine became suspicious when he noticed that Seerattan placed the visitor’s pass in his trousers pocket.

Ramnarine spoke to Seerattan again. The security officer said he telephoned “his people inside.” He then noticed that Seerattan had walked towards the front office. “I spoke to him again. He came back to my booth and was fixing his crotch area. He went to the back of the booth and I heard an explosion. “I came out of the booth to see what it was. I saw the guy right behind the glass door. I then saw a black object resembling a gun. I moved away from the glass door and the guy pointed the gun to my face. He was about five feet away. I raised my left hand and spoke to him, saying ‘pal, let us talk this thing over.’ I turned my face away.” Ramnarine said he heard another explosion and he started to run. He ran about six steps when he heard a third explosion and fell face down on the ground. He then saw one of his colleagues, Anthony Ralph, who helped him to the cafeteria. He was left there for a short period until Ralph returned with other staff members.

The ambulance took him to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated for injuries to the left side of his face and his right hip. “My teeth were broken and blood was flowing. I knew I sustained injuries to my face,” Ramnarine told the Coroner. Under cross-examination by Patricia Roberts, Ramnarine said before Seerattan came to his booth, he got a wireless message from one Brian Mitchell. He denied that Mitchell had put him “on guard” about Seerattan. Ramnarine said after he was shot, he never saw Seerattan again. He did not see Ralph at the time he was shot. When asked why he tried to tried to talk to Seerattan, Ramnarine said he did so in an attempt to get the teenager to put away the gun. This did not work — he was still shot in the face. Ramnarine described Seerattan as a “very, very quiet person.”