Israel Khan forces defence attorney to excuse himself

Attorney Ravi Rajkumar, representing the interest of the Bonadie family at the inquest into the shooting death of Galene Bonadie, yesterday temporarily excused himself from the proceedings following an application by attorney Israel Khan SC, who asked that the attorney himself give a statement and become a witness in the matter. Khan is representing four police officers whose characters have come into question following the death of the woman. Bonadie, of Second Caledonia Morvant, was shot dead on April 2 last year after a confrontation between residents and police officers, who were reportedly patrolling the area. Since the incident, the four police officers are being investigated. The officers, who are all attached to the North Eastern Division Task Force, are Imraz Hosein, Brian Phillips, Sherwin Sinnette and Dale Makoonsingh.

Khan’s application followed days of cross examining witnesses in the matter. He found out from each of  them that they had not gone to the police to give statements, but rather, went to the attorney, who recorded the statements for each of the witnesses thus far. In his application yesterday to the Coroner, Sherman Mc Nicolls, who is presiding in the matter, Khan outlined reasons why the attorney should be exonerated from the proceedings. “It has never happened in this country before where attorneys with private practice are taking statements from witnesses. It is not the duty of an attorney to take statements from potential witnesses. That is for the police to do. The law does not permit for an attorney to take such matters into his own hands. This has totally compromised the investigation. ”

According to Khan, “What has happened here is a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The DPP looked at the file and advised himself that there is no reasonable and probable cause to charge anyone for murder or manslaughter. The same statements were rejected by the DPP. He has washed his hands of it.” Khan had earlier this week accused attorney Rajkumar of getting personally involved in the matter. However, making it clear to Coroner Mc Nicolls yesterday, Khan said he had spoken to Rajkumar before making his application, and told the court the attorney was well aware of  all he was going to say. “It never dawned on me that my colleague was playing this role. I am of the view that my colleague got roped into this matter.

The better way to go here is that my colleague should give a statement saying what his role is. Following that, he should be exonerated and find himself elsewhere,” Khan submitted. In response to Khan’s application, attorney Rajkumar admitted to having conversations with Khan on his pending application. “Mr Khan is right. He is right and I understand all that he is saying. There is no reason to doubt my integrity and am happy that Mr Khan will vouch for my integrity. I will seek the advice of Senior Counsel on the matter. However I don’t want any adjournment. I don’t want the matter to be delayed. The matter should go on,” Rajkumar said before exiting the courtroom.

Mc Nicolls then indicated he would reserve ruling on the matter until Friday. “Evidence is unfolding before me. Chances are that you (Rajkumar) will be summoned,” said the Coroner. Three more witnesses took to the stand yesterday, including the son and another sister-in-law of the deceased. Corey Bonadie told the court he witnessed a police officer “raising his gun and shooting off his mother’s head.” Cecelia Ferguson could not contain herself when she recalled the sight of Bonadie after she had been shot. The other witness was Afiba Calendar who was cross-examined in depth by attorney Israel Khan. Hearing resumes today.