Laughter over claim of safe police custody

A policeman’s boast that a murder accused  in his custody was safe from harm brought laughter from attorneys, jurors and members of the public yesterday in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court, where five men are on trial for the murder of Barataria handyman, Roger Alexander. Tobago’s acting Sgt William Nurse was being cross-examined by defence attorney Pamela Elder SC about why he did not record in his personal diary that accused Hassan Sanchez had told him that he was afraid for his life. Nurse was making contemporaneous notes in his personal diary while interviewing Sanchez at the Scarborough Police Station on October 27, 2000.

Nurse acknowledged that it was important to note Sanchez’ concern, but explained that Sanchez was safe in police custody:  “I know he was safe.” His answer brought laughter and smiles on the faces of the jury, attorneys and members of the public in the courtroom. Elder also asked of Nurse: “Safe from whom, the police, himself or others?” Nurse explained that what he meant was that “no harm will come to him (Sanchez) while in my custody — speaking for myself.”

Elder:  “Yourself or the police?”
Nurse: “I cannot say what other people will do.”
Elder: “By others, you mean your colleagues?”
Nurse:  “I am talking generally... well people in police custody have visitors.”
Elder:  “People in police custody meet their death.”
Nurse: “I did not have that experience. I never had the experience that persons in police custody have met their death.”

He also told the court that his failure to record Sanchez’ concern in his diary did not remove the need for him to do so, and he did record it in the police station diary. Garvin Sookram, aka “Bean,” John Wayne Alleyne, aka “Bumbles,” Junior Sookram, aka “Country,” Hassan Sanchez and Ronald Gaskin, aka “Doom,” are before Justice Narine charged with the murder of  Alexander, aka “One Arm,” on August 19, 2000 at Saw Mill Avenue in Barataria. Hearing continues today.