TOBAGO COP FREED OF COLLEAGUE’S MURDER

The wife of Leon Dennis wept in the Scarborough First Court on Thursday after the retired Special Reserve Police (SRP) constable was freed on a charge of murder in the shooting death of a retired police inspector during a hunting expedition five years ago. Dennis was discharged as Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie upheld a “no-case” submission made by his attorney, Keith Scotland, at the close of the preliminary inquiry. The State’s case was presented by State prosecutor Nigel Pilgrim.

Dennis was charged with killing retired inspector Selwyn Roberts, of Lambeau, while the two, who were each armed with a shotgun, were on a hunting expedition in the Indian Walk Estate at Moriah, Tobago, on August 28, 2000. Dennis and the deceased regularly went hunting together, and were described as “hunting partners.” According to reports, shots rang out sometime during the exercise and the deceased was found lying on the ground, bleeding from gunshot wounds. Following investigations, the file was forwarded to the DPP and Dennis was subsequently charged with Roberts’ murder.

In his submission, defence attorney Scotland argued that the element of murder had not been proven and his client had no case to answer. Scotland submitted that the State had not discharged enough evidence to show that a murder had been committed. “There is no scientific evidence that links the accused with the death of the deceased,” Scotland told the court. He also said there was no scientific evidence that leads to the conclusion that the bullets which struck Roberts came from the gun carried by the accused. “Where is the evidence against the accused? Where is the evidence, any evidence at all, that can lead to an inference being drawn that Leon Dennis shot the deceased?” Scotland queried. The magistrate agreed that a prima facie case had not been made out against the accused and discharged the matter.