‘We were having too many homicides’

POLICE Sergeant Wayne Dick said yesterday that when he went to St Ann’s in 2003, his main focus was to get an AK-47 off the streets as “we were having too many homicides.” Dick, who was attached to Homicide in 2003, was further cross-examined by lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC. When hearing resumes on Monday, the witness will be further cross-examined. The questioning of the policeman centred around his visit to St Ann’s on July 6, 2003 when he collected a bag with two guns, a magazine and 41 rounds of ammunition. He will be further questioned on Monday.

(SGT WAYNE DICK—  cross-examined by Pamela Elder SC)

ELDER: Did Brent Miller, on the 5th of July, at the Central Police Station, tell you about the guns?
DICK: No. All he was telling me was that he wanted to tell me something.
ELDER: After speaking to him on the 6th of July, did you go to St Ann’s to get the guns?
DICK: Yes. Before going to St Ann’s, Miller told me about guns. I know he told me about a gun, an AK-47. It was not guns, it was a gun - an AK-47. He told me about one gun, as far as I can recall.
ELDER: So you don’t know what Brent Miller said in court? You did not read the newspapers?
DICK: I don’t read the newspapers. He may have told me about guns.  He may have told me about guns, or an AK-47, which he called the K.
ELDER: If he told you about guns, would you forget that?
DICK: When we spoke, the issue wasn’t about the gun, but to get the guns off the streets. Brent Miller told me about an AK-47, which he called the K. I wanted to get the gun off the streets in view of the number of homicides we were having.
ELDER: Do you have a note about what Brent Miller told you?
DICK: No, but I have a mental note.
ELDER: But I can’t go into your mind to see what you have there.
DICK: I was given specific instructions which I complied with. He gave me instructions which I complied with. I got further instructions which I complied with. I got a bag with the barrel of a gun protruding. I was satisfied with what I got.
ELDER: Were you told of those guns by Brent Miller?
DICK: I may have been told so.
ELDER: Would you agree that your memory has failed you with what he told you?
DICK: No, I don’t agree, I may not remember the exact words. I know it was a bag with a K. I am certain what the K is, because I asked what the K is.
ELDER: Did Brent Miller tell you about one gun or more than one gun?
DICK: He never used the term one gun or more than one gun. Brent Miller told me about going to collect a bag with the K. When I asked what the K is, he told me an AK-47.
ELDER: Do you realise the wisdom in making a detailed record in your diary?
DICK: I always do so. I see the wisdom. However, circumstances always dictate the way things are done. Very often, people speak to me and tell me things. It may have been impractical to write down what they say.
ELDER: You could have written it down outside his presence?
DICK: I made a report in the station diary.
ELDER: Did you make a note of the person or the number you called? The number which was given by Miller?
DICK: No. Miller was concerned not only about his family, and although he could trust me, he could not trust acting Corporal Veronique.
ELDER: So all these things were said?
DICK: Yes, I said so yesterday. I spent much time listening to him.
ELDER: This is the first time we are hearing that he did not trust Veronique. Tell me more about this man who handed you the bag. Describe him.
DICK: All I can say, he was bare-backed and the place was dark. I saw a face I can’t tell you his features. The place was dark.
ELDER: Did you expect him at a particular point?
DICK: No. He just jumped out from behind a building. When I spoke to him on the phone, he told me he would be in a position to see me. He said ‘if I see anybody else, you won’t see me and you won’t get any bag. Come alone.’ A hand just come out like this. A bag just came out and I took it. I said the person sprung from behind the house with a bag.
ELDER: How can a person spring out and just his hand come out? Explain that. (Witness demonstrates).
DICK: His face was not covered.
ELDER: Did you tell the Magistrate that he covered his face with his hands?
DICK: I did not tell the Magistrate that.

(Elder quotes from the deposition):
Q: He had one hand blocking his face?
A: Yes, ma’am.

ELDER: You know the expression in Trinidad — a liar has to have a good memory?
DICK: Yes, I know that. Thanks for refreshing me.
ELDER: You see why some people don’t like to take notes?

(Elder asked the witness to show how the mystery man blocked his face. Witness demonstrates.)

ELDER: How far was he from the building when he emerged?
DICK: About two feet.
ELDER: Was it a dirt track or a paved track?
DICK: It was not a paved track. But I can’t say if it was stone or dirt.
ELDER: As an experienced officer, I would have thought you would have surveyed the area before entering this dark track.
DICK: I am glad you said experienced...When I got to Ariapita Road, I stopped, I looked around and saw no one.
Then I walked up the track.
ELDER: Is it an incline?
DICK: Yes, it was.
ELDER: You are certain about that?
DICK: Yes, it is not flat.
ELDER: You mentioned earlier, there was a tall house.
DICK: It was not a flat house on the ground. It was off the ground. If it was not a one-storey house, it may have been a two-storey house.
My focus was on going up the track to get the gun.
ELDER: Were there other houses?
DICK: There were other houses to the back of the track.
ELDER: Were there houses on the other side?
DICK: Yes. There was a tree on the left hand side of the track.
ELDER: One tree?
DICK: As far as I can recall.
ELDER: What about street lights?
DICK: There were street lights.
ELDER: What about the lights from the house in the track?
DICK: There were lights in other houses, that is how I recognised other houses.
ELDER: You are a big man?
DICK: I am tall.
ELDER: How tall was this person?
DICK: As tall as I am?
ELDER: You came close to the man to grab the strap (to the bag)?
DICK: It was less than a foot.
ELDER: Was it easier to grab the wrist?
DICK: No, it was easier to hold the bag. It was safer for me to hold the bag. It could have been just one person in the dark, or there may have been more than one person in the track.
ELDER: But you left your back-up in the car?
DICK: Veronique was not my back-up. He went with me. It is not unusual for two officers to go on inquiries together.
ELDER: Did you consider going there with several officers?
DICK: No. That is unusual.
ELDER: But Officer Charles was in the back seat of the vehicle? You never ever mentioned Officer Charles?
DICK: No question was asked of me about Officer Charles.
ELDER: When next did you see Brent Miller after the 7th of July.
DICK: On the 16th of July in respect of another matter.
ELDER: Not even in the Magistrates Court you said anything about Officer Charles?
DICK: Nobody asked me, it is only today. Officer Charles was in the back seat. It was an omission that I left him out.
ELDER: Which senior officer checked your pocket diary for the 6th of July? On the 7th, the 5th?
DICK: There is no signature there.
When I left on the 6th, there was no senior officer in the office.
ELDER: Would you agree there are rules to keep officers in check. To safe officers from allegations of fabrication?
DICK: I agree.
ELDER: Did anyone call on you to check those notes?
DICK: It is in the station diary.
ELDER: You are quick to flash your pocket diary. So no senior officer can come here to authenticate that those notes were made on those dates?
DICK: You are correct, ma’am.
ELDER: Where is officer Charles now?
DICK: My last information is that he is in the United States where he has been for a year now.
ELDER: Did you get a statement from officer Charles?
DICK: I did not ask him. He did not even know why I went to St Ann’s.
He may have seen me taking a bag out of the car, but he did not know.