Teen guilty of killing cop

After deliberating for some six hours, a mixed jury of 12 found 19-year-old Keron Joseph guilty of murdering PC Kieran Parke by shooting him in the back on December 30, 2002. Joseph, also called Attiba Carr, who was 16 years old at the time, will be sentenced today. He was not sentenced late yesterday, after the jury delivered its verdict because a copy of the proper sentencing could not be found.

After a Privy Council ruling in 2003, the law was changed from sentencing a minor at the President’s Pleasure to the Court’s Pleasure. The jury of six men and six women had retired and 1 pm to consider the verdict. After the first three hours, which are allotted before the judge recalls the jury to enquire of their position, the foreman said they needed more time. The jury returned shortly after 6 pm with the guilty  verdict. Wife of the slain policeman, Donna Parke, said that while she was happy with the verdict, she was saddened by the loss of two lives — first her husband and now his killer.

She was touched by the affection demonstrated in court by Joseph’s  relatives, but wondered why such affection was not shown to the boy before. PC Parke was 39, a father of two, attached to the Court and Process Branch, when he was gunned down in a mini-mart at Adjodha Street, Don Miguel Road, Barataria. Dressed in uniform, Parke had gone to the business place to serve two summonses when Joseph shot him in the back and took his firearm.