Attorneys put Tobago cop under pressure

Tobago’s popular aphrodisiac “pacro” water was offered yesterday to counsel at the bar table, while Tobago Justice of the Peace Clarence Warner was testifying in the Barataria murder trial at the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court. Also testifying yesterday was Tobago ASP Allan Crooks, who admitted that an entry in the Scarborough Police Station diary was wrong, and that he did nothing to correct the error when he learnt about it. Crooks, who was the first witness to be called after a week’s adjournment to accommodate two jurors writing examinations, said one of the five accused confessed, “Is Bean shoot the man...”  


Both men were testifying before Justice Rajendra Narine on behalf of the State in the murder trial of Garvin Sookram, aka “Bean,” John Wayne Alleyne, aka “Bumbles,” Junior Sookram, aka “Country,” Hassan Sanchez and Ronald Gaskin, aka “Doom.” They are charged with the murder of handyman Roger Alexander, aka “One Arm,” on August 19, 2000 at Saw Mill Avenue in Barataria. Alexander, 34, a father of one, was shot in the back four times. Crooks said when Sanchez was arrested in Tobago he admitted,  “Is Bean shoot the man in his head and chest behind my grandmother’s house in Barataria, and he and Doom and them put the body in a green PBH car with a black bumper and they dumped the body.”


Crooks also testified that Sanchez told PC William Nurse that he was afraid for his life but agreed to give Nurse a written statement about what he had just said. According to Crooks, Sanchez told Nurse, “I fraid for meh life but if you gave me a lil time and you get a JP, I will tell you everything.” Sanchez was taken to the home of Warner where the statement was recorded on the night of October 27, 2000. Crooks came in for some blistering cross-examination by defence attorneys Pamela Elder SC, Osbourne Charles SC and Scotland. Under the rigid questioning, Crooks admitted that as the senior officer witnessing Sanchez’s statement, he had breached the police standing orders and the “Judges Rules.” 


He failed to initial mistakes of the written statements, keep a record of Sanchez’ oral statement, read over the notes Nurse was making about Sanchez’ statement, or ensure that the notes Nurse were making was what was being said. He also failed to ensure that the time the statement ended was placed on the document. Crooks said he did not interview Sanchez at the Scarborough Police Station, but Nurse did. He said he was only present during 30 minutes of the interview. An entry in the station diary has recorded both Crooks and Nurse as interviewing Sanchez. In spite of these “shortcomings” alleged by the defence, Crooks insisted Sanchez voluntarily gave the statement. When hearing resumes today, Scotland will continue to cross-examine Warner.

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