Cop on trial for Red Fete killing

The court heard that while the dying man, Kevin Cato, was on the ground, he was begging, "give me air, give me air."

The 12-member jury of mostly women heard how 29-year-old police constable Dave Burnett shot Cato dead, and also shot and injured Ryan Solomon because patrons bumped into the cop several times during the fete. The jury of ten women and two men also heard that on the last occasion Solomon bumped into Burnett, the PC slapped him and Solomon returned the slap.

In his opening address to the jury, State prosecutor George Busby also said that the altercation followed an interaction between Burnett, Cato, Solomon and Solomon’s girlfriend Alicia. During this interaction, Burnett placed something to Solomon’s chest and there was an explosion.

Solomon felt a burning sensation and blood. Moments later, there was another explosion. When Alicia pulled Solomon away, she noticed Cato lying on the ground and Burnett standing a few feet away, saying, "yeah I is police, yeah I is police."

Female police Sgt Kathleen Stephen Prospects responded to the incident after the music stopped, and Soca artiste Iwer George made an announcement on the PA system.

Prospects said she saw Cato on the ground bareback, with a "three-quarter" pants. A woman was kneeling at his side, holding under his left armpit. The policeman testified that when she moved the woman’s hand, she saw blood. Cato was gasping for breath, saying "give meh air, give meh air."

Prospects immediately used her cell phone to call E999. With the help of bystanders, she took Cato to the front of the building. There was no ambulance so she "flagged down" a pick-up van and instructed the driver to take Cato to the hospital. Cato was placed in the tray of the van and she and two other women also sat in the tray. Just before the van arrived at the Goodwood Park entrance, they intercepted an ambulance. While Cato was being transferred to the ambulance, a car arrived on the scene with Solomon. He was also placed in the ambulance and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Prospects said she noticed a hole in Solomon’s jersey with burn marks.

Cato died and Solomon survived the Red Fete shooting. Cato and Solomon were among a group of about 13 persons who went to the fete.

Burnett is before Justice Brook in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court charged with the murder of Cato between January 24-25, 2004. Attorneys Pamela Elder SC and Kathyann Motley are representing Burnett.

Four witnesses testified yesterday, including Cato’s mother, Marilyn, Prospects, Sgt Winston Isaac and police photographer PC Nigel Bedeau.

Hearing continues on Monday.