SHOCKING

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched a separate investigation into the same incident, part of which was captured on video which has gone viral since being posted online to social media.

Yesterday, a release from the TT Police Service revealed that Acting Superintendent of Yusuff Gaffar has been appointed lead investigator and will receive support from officers of the Homicide Investigations Bureau Region III and the TTPS Professional Standards Bureau.

“An investigation has begun into the police involved shooting that resulted in the death of Adil Gilbert, 34, of Building 23, Ramsaran Street, Embacadere, San Fernando. The investigation was ordered by Commissioner of Police (Ag) Harold Phillip, following the fatal shooting which occurred at around 11.30 am on Thursday October 19, while members of the Southern Division Task Force were on exercise duty at Lawrence Street, San Fernando.

“Acting Superintendent Yusuff Gaffar has been appointed lead investigator with support from Homicide Region 3 South. The Professional Standards Bureau has the responsibility for monitoring and oversight of the investigation.

The Police Complaints Authority is also conducting its own independent investigation into the incident,” stated the TTPS release. Describing as “unfortunate” the death of the man who police revealed had several outstanding warrants for offences ranging from murder to robbery, Phillip gave his assurance that the investigation will be “open and transparent” and the outcome will be made known to the public.” The PCA meantime disclosed that they were aware of video footage and other media reports circulating in relation to Gilbert’s death and which involved police officers. The statement further read: “Pursuant to Section 26 of the Police Complaints Authority Act, Chapter 15:05, the PCA has, on its own initiative, commenced an independent investigation into the incident. This incident is a clear example of why the PCA has been lobbying support for amendments to its legislation including, but not limited to, providing the Authority with the power to solely and independently take charge of and preserve the scene in instances such as this. In this regard, we are asking for any witnesses to or persons with information on or regarding the incident to kindly contact the PCA at: 800-2PCA /800-2722.” HEAVENLY JUSTICE Meanwhile, relatives of Gilbert yesterday said that they are expecting “Heavenly Justice” for his death, as God will now not only judge Gilbert whatever sins he may have committed but also the police officers who shot him. An autopsy revealed that Gilbert was shot twice in the back with the bullets exiting through the chest.

Adana Gilbert condemned the officers saying that while her brother was no saint, he was unarmed at the time he was confronted by police and should not have been shot in the back.

“To that policeman who thinks that he is a hero for killing an unarmed man, he may feel he is a hero, but he is a fool,” said Adana as she and relatives waited at the Forensic Science Centre for the autopsy report on her brother.

“My brother will be resting in peace. I am quite sure he (the policeman) would not be sleeping comfortably, knowing he shot an unarmed man and then lying and saying that he (Gilbert) had a gun.

Gilbert was a father of four.

The video that has gone viral online shows Gilbert on the ground bleeding from the chest.

Police rummage through the pockets of his pants. An officer is seen picking up something from the ground and putting it in his (the officer) pocket. A woman’s screams are heard on the video.

“Allyuh kill him!”, “Allyuh shoot him in his chest!”, “Why allyuh do that,” she is heard shouting.

Gilbert’s limp body is picked up by officers and placed in a police jeep to be taken to hospital. A woman is then seen fighting with an officer. (See Page 7A) President of the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA) Insp Michael Seales yesterday said that police should be outfitted with body cameras to capture footage of incidents in their entirety rather than videos taken by civilians, “that may be edited later to show the police in a certain negative light”, which are then uploaded to social media.

IS THERE A POLICE DEATH SQUAD? Opposition Senator Wade Mark, at a press conference yesterday, queried if a death squad operates with the TTPS as he reacted to Gilbert’s death. “The Minister of National Security (Edmund Dillon) needs to answer if there’s a death squad in the Police Service. Our society can only remain civilised if we uphold the rule of law,” Mark said. Moments before, Opposition Senator Khadijah Ameen called for an independent probe by an impartial body into Gilbert’s death, with the findings to be made public.

Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge said a coroner’s inquest is serviced with evidence by police officers, but lamented that in this case the investigating officers are from the same district as the officers under probe. He urged the probe be done by officers from the Homicide Division in Port-of- Spain and the Professional Standards Bureau. He did not think the Police Complaints Authority had the resources to do the probe.

Mark had first suggested a police death squad as an Opposition Senator on June 10, 2003, in the Senate debate on the Kidnapping Bill 2003.

SENATORS SHOCKED Independent Senator Sophia Chote SC and Opposition Senator Khadijah Ameen expressed their horror over the killing of Gilbert, in their respective contributions to the 2016/2017 Budget debate in the Senate yesterday. Referring to the video of the killing posted on social media, Chote declared, “I was shocked by what I saw and I think all of us as parliamentarians should be shocked and should ask ourselves the question...’why are we spending all this money on national security?’.” She said over the last two years, the country would have spent approximately $18 billion on national security.

Listing the several anti-crime initiatives undertaken by the People’s National Movement (PNM) and its People’s Partnership (PP) predecessor, Chote said in spite of all of that, “we have police officers who simply cannot effect a simple arrest.” She asked, “We must pay $18 billion for that?” Chote continued, “Should we not spend that money in some other ministry where we might get a better reward?” She said, “I think we need to bite the bullet and say that if it is that the TT Police Service is not doing its job, then some means must be found to get rid of those officers who are hampering the process of crime interdiction...that’s the only thing that may be done.” In her earlier contribution, Ameen said,”The subsequent handling by the police of the body of Mr Gilbert...by picking him up by his limbs and throwing him in the back of a police vehicle has led to the video (of the killing) going viral on social media.” She added, “While I am all for taking a hard stand where it is required when it comes to implementing the law...

the police are not above the law.” Claiming that National Security Minister Edmund Dillon publicly said the police should “harass individuals and make their lives untenable” regarding persons who ran afoul of the law, Ameen said she wanted to know if Dillon condoned, “the heartless actions by the police.” Ameen said it begged the bigger question, “is there a hit squad in the Police Service?” She continued, “Is this something that the Minister is aware of and allowing to happen?” Ameen said the police cannot gain the respect of the country’s young people and the citizens at large, “if they continue with actions like that....where they could shoot a man and lift his body like a dog and get into a fight with a woman...apparently a relative.”

(Reporting by CECILY ASSON,
RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS,
SEAN DOUGLAS and
CLINT CHAN TACK)