Witness points to cop as the ‘shooter’

One of the main witnesses to the shooting death of Galene Bonadie, who was shot and killed last year, yesterday pointed out one of the four police officers as the one who pulled the trigger in the shooting incident that led to the death of the Morvant mother of five. As the inquest into the shooting death got underway yesterday, Rudy Welch, also a Morvant resident, took to the stand,  and under oath, pointed to PC Brian Phillips as the shooter of the gun who caused the death of the Morvant woman. Bonadie of Second Caledonia Morvant, was shot and killed instantly on April 2 last year after a confrontation between residents and police officers who were reportedly patrolling the area.

Standing before the coroner were four police officers attached to the Port-of-Spain Task Force. The officers are said to be involved in the ongoing investigation of the circumstances surrounding Bonadie’s death.  The officers are Imraz Hosein, Brian Phillips, Sherwin Sinnette and Dale Makoonsingh. Welch stood in the witness box yesterday, and before Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls, Welch informed the court, that on the said date, he was a guest at a birthday party in the area. He said it was during that time,  the incident occurred. Mc Nicolls: “Tell us what happened while you were liming at the birthday party?”

Welch: “Well I saw a police jeep pass. It was an E999 jeep and it had four police officers in the vehicle. I keep watching the vehicle because I know that police does come in the area and intimidate people and have them under duress. “Lower down the road,  I see the jeep stop and an officer come out by a white van that was passing. The officer had a gun and I see him doing like if  he was putting the gun in the man car. (Witness gesticulates to court).When I see like it had a confrontation and I see an officer with a gun, I tell the people who was around me ‘like something going on there,’ so we went up the road to see what was happening. “When we reach there, I see it was Sean Reid who was driving the van. The officer  who  had  the gun pull him out of the van and throw him on the ground. Then the same officer start to beat the man. Sean was lying on his face and the officer, who was wearing something like army boots, stamp on his face. It was about six to seven times.

“It was about 17 to 18 of us watching what was happening and all we keep telling the police was that they should not beat the man, just lock him up. Nobody was in touching distance of the police. Galene was close to them. “PC Phillips, (witness points to police officer) was the man beating Sean. It was not long after when PC Phillips turn around just so and shoot the woman in she head. The man just spin and shoot the woman in she head. From the time I see she get shoot, I know she dead. She get shoot like on the side of she head there. Pieces of she skull was all over the place. “Two of the four officers remain in the jeep. (Witness points to other two officers). PC Mackoonsingh was in the front passenger seat and PC Hosein was the driver. Another officer was outside with Phillips. He is PC Sinnette. He help Phillips put Bonadie in the jeep.”

Welch had also testified that he gave a statement to the police about the incident only because the investigating officer, ASP Nadir Khan, told him something would happen. “I don’t have any confidence in the police,” said Welch. Under questioning from attorney Israel Khan, SC who is representing the interest of the four officers whose characters have come into question in relation to the incident, Welch admitted that he was told by an officer on April 22, that he had pointed out the wrong person as the shooter during an identification parade. Welch was among several persons who were called to take part in an identification parade organised by investigating officers. “I pointed out number 6 in the line up, but when I left, a police officer told me I pointed out the wrong man,” said Welch. “ When I heard that, I went to the attorney seeing about the matter and told him what happened. I told Mr Ravi Rajkoomar about it and gave another statement.”

Khan then made Welch read a copy of the statement he had given to the attorney. The statement read “The officer had narrow features.” “You said you did not have help with this statement. Tell the coroner the description of the shooter,” insisted Khan. In response the witness proceeded to tell the court that the shooter was a slim dark-skinned man with a slim face. Welch also said he could identify him by his cock teeth. Also testifying in the matter was the former common-law husband of the deceased, Sean “Bill” Francis, who under questioning by attorney Khan, admitted to not giving the police a statement in the matter, saying he too did not trust the officers of the law. Khan: “You took an active role in the matter involving the death of your wife. You took people and carried them on ID parades.

You also sought the advice of a well known criminal attorney, Mr Ravi Rajkoomar. Did you also get advice to take statements from people? All I want to know is why you did not go to the police, or the DPP, or to the investigating officer, Nadir Khan, to give your statements?” Khan’s questioning raised strong objections by attorney Rajkoomar who told the Coroner that conversations between a client and his attorney cannot be inquired into. Two other witnesses also testified in the matter yesterday. They were Kevon Innis, son of the deceased and Glen Francis. Hearing resumes today at the Port-of-Spain Eighth magistrate’s court.