Security alert in court

Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne cleared the court as cops searched members of the public forcing Quintyne to adjourn the proceedings to March 25. At the time, the State’s main witness, WPC Nicole Clement, was being cross-examined by Senior Counsel Israel Khan. Clement began her testimony on Thursday in which Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC led evidence from the policewoman. Clement, 33, was among seven police officers charged with the July 22, murder of Abigail Johnson, Alana Duncan and Kerron “Fingers” Eccles. Johnson and Eccles are from Moruga. Duncan is from Hermitage Village, near San Fernando.

The three friends were shot dead at the corner of Poui Trace and Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore. Clement has been granted immunity from prosecution after the DPP dropped the murder charges against her. The six cops facing the court for the murders are: Cpl Khemraj Sahadeo, PCs Ronaldo Rivero, Antonio Ramdhin, Glen Singh, Safraz Juman and Roger Nicholas. They were members of the Robbery Squad (south).

Security inside and outside the courthouse was beefed up for her re-appearance as the main witness. Heavily-tinted black SUVs were parked outside the courthouse where members of the Inter-Agency Task Force stood guard. Before commencement of the proceedings, Clement was brought into the courtroom and seated between two Special Branch officers. A senior policewoman, who walked in, attempted to hug Clement but was warned by a member of her security detail against touching the witness. The preliminary inquiry hearing resumed when Clement was summoned to the witness box. Gaspard asked Clement three more questions, having led evidence from her on Thursday for three hours.

Khan apologised to Quintyne and Gaspard for his absence on Thursday, then commenced cross-examination of Clement. He is defending the accused cops together with attorney Ulric Skerrit, instructed by attorney Celest St Lious. Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson is prosecuting in the inquiry together with Gaspard. During Khan’s questioning, Gaspard objected and sought Quintyne’s ruling on an issue regarding questions asked of the witness, to which answers were already given.

Khan commented, “Let’s be cool and calm about this thing.”

Gaspard retorted: “Let’s be logical about it to.”

In his cross-examination, Khan asked that certain documents be passed to Clement. Midway into Khan’s questioning, Clement asked for a drink of water and Quintyne stood down the hearing for ten minutes. But upon resumption and with Quintyne already seated on the bench and attorneys at the bar table, there was an unusually long wait for Clement to be escorted from the witness room back into the courtroom to continue her evidence.

More members of Clement’s security detail took up positions at the courtroom’s entrance. Gaspard was seen holding a piece of paper on which two sentences appeared to be scribbled. After reading the note, the DPP rose and sought leave to check on the witness. He returned and told the magistrate that he wished to apprise her of a development, but needed to do so in camera. The media and members of the public, including relatives of the accused cops and victims, were asked by the magistrate to vacate the courtroom.

Immediately, police officers in tactical gear and armed with automatic guns, arrived on the stairs leading to the courtroom. While Gaspard addressed Quintyne, police officers began to search members of the public on the stairs. Women were asked to empty their bags. Ten minutes after, a police officer walked out of the courtroom and told members of the public that the inquiry had been adjourned to March 25.

The search was abandoned, but no one was allowed back into the courtroom.