Shot man handcuffed to bed

Speaking at their home at La Sargasse Road, Gasparillo Village, Santa Cruz yesterday, relatives of Brendan Benjamin said his right hand was in a cast as the bone had been shattered after he was allegedly shot by police on Saturday.

Contrary to reports that Benjamin had passed away, relatives and doctors at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope confirmed he remained warded in a stable condition under police guard.

Relatives said Benjamin has been handcuffed to the bed in spite of injuries.

Benjamin, 34, a tree cutter of El Pericho Drive, Santa Cruz accompanied five friends to the Rich Gold Bar, Chase Village, Chaguanas on Saturday morning to lime.

While at the establishment, it is alleged that the six men, Benjamin; Nkosi Borde, 28; Nigel Eminess, 21; Hayden Honore, 31; Shane Carmona, 25; and Clint Mitchell, 22, became involved in a fracas outside the club following which they left and were allegedly chased and shot by police.

Relatives of the six men yesterday insisted the police officers had been in an unmarked vehicle and had not identified themselves as lawmen.

Borde, Eminess and Honore were killed during the alleged police shootout outside the Rich Gold Bar at about 1 am on Saturday. Police reports indicate the officers were responding to reports of a robbery outside the bar after several patrons claimed they were robbed by the deceased.

Vowing not to let the matter rest until justice is served, relatives of Carmona and Honore tearfully pleaded for legal assistance yesterday as they said they were “only interested in getting justice for those who have died.”

A female relative of Carmona, who requested that her name not be used, told Newsday that Carmona had contacted the family and said the six friends were being shot at by “the bandits”.

She said he begged her to send the police to help them as the gunmen were firing at them as they hid in the bushes close to the club.

The woman said although Carmona, Mitchell and Benjamin remained in police custody up to last night, their families have only been allowed to speak with them briefly.

PNM St Ann’s East MP Joanne Thomas yesterday paid a two and a half hour visit to the families of the dead and gave the assurance that the Opposition party was taking a keen interest in the matter. Thomas called for a speedy resolution to the “unjust killings” and urged the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to ensure that a “free and independent investigation is conducted into the matter.”

On Monday evening, PCA investigators interviewed relatives of the dead men at their Santa Cruz homes.