Two cops freed of manslaughter charges

MANSLAUGHTER charges laid against two police officers at the end of the International School shooting inquest were dismissed yesterday. Constables Gary Moore and Suad Weekes were charged with the unlawful killing of  17-year-old Phillip Seerattan, who was shot dead on November 20 2002, at the International School in Westmoorings. The charges were dismissed despite a ruling made earlier this year by Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls after an inquest held into the shooting death of the teenager. The Coroner heard evidence from some 38 witnesses, following which, on March 24, he ordered that warrants be issued for the arrests of the officers for the unlawful killing of the boy. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reviewed the police file on the shooting incident and also the evidence that had come before the Coroner during an inquest held into the shooting death of the teenager.

At the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the two police officers were accompanied by attorney Dana Seetahal. Shortly after their arrival, investigating officer ASP Terrance Badal executed the warrants on both of the officers.  Both officers were then taken to court. Representing the State was attorney Nigel Pilgrim, who told Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim that the prosecution, after a review of the Coroner’s report on the matter as well as the police file, could not establish that the killing of Seerattan was unlawful. There was a sigh of relief from both Weekes and Moore, who seemed to have looked to the heavens thanking God for that decision. Relatives who had accompanied the accused also seemed relieved, shaking hands with each other, hugging and smiling. The magistrate then told both officers that charges laid against them were dismissed, and they were free to leave. After the submission made by the prosecution, attorney Seetahal thanked the DPP for the decision.

Contacted by Newsday after the decision, WPC Weekes said she was relieved the ordeal was over. “I knew from the beginning that I had not done anything wrong and so this could not have gone any other way,” she said. Weekes, who was pregnant during the time of the ruling, said it was a difficult period for her, and she was even sent on bed rest. She recently gave birth to a baby girl and said she was looking forward to attending to her baby now more than ever. PC Gary Moore, although unavailable for comment, also became a father recently. Seerattan of Mount St Ann’s Drive, Cascade, was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with the two officers at the Westmoorings school. He had earlier entered the school’s compound armed with his father’s Smith and Wesson pistol and had shot a security guard. After calls by the Seerattan family to find out just what took place on the day their son was killed, an inquest was held.