Teen on trial for murder of cop

THE TRIAL of a teenager charged with the murder of a police officer began yesterday at the Port-of-Spain Sixth Criminal Court, after more than two weeks of legal submissions. But the trial was again delayed for nearly an hour when one of the 12-member panel of jurors and one alternate applied for exemptions. Both applications were granted. Eighteen-year-old Keron Joseph, also called Atiba Carr, is before Justice Malcolm Holdip charged with the December 30, 2002, murder of PC Keiran Parke. At the time of the fatal shooting, the 39-year-old officer was attached to the Port-of-Spain Court and Process Branch.

The State’s case against the accused is that on the day in question, Parke went to the corner of Adjodha Street and Don Miguel Road in San Juan to serve a summons at Liz and Lincoln’s mini mart. Joseph, who was seen riding his BMX bike in the area at the time, left and returned a short time later. He parked the bike in front of a “channa place” and went into the mini-mart. Explosions were heard and one witness saw an unarmed Parke lying on the ground and a slim, dark brown man with a low haircut standing over him. When the police arrived, they found two shotgun pellets at the scene. Parke was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he later succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem report revealed he died of gunshot wounds. PC Anthony Spence, the officer who arrested Joseph five days after the shooting, told the court he was on enquiries along Main Street, Beetham Estate, at about 10.30 am on January 4, 2003, when he noticed Joseph standing next to a blue shed.

The accused, Spence said, was acting suspiciously, causing him (Spence) to get out of the vehicle and approach him. Spence said he searched the accused and then told him he fitted the description of the man who had shot and killed Parke and cautioned him. He also told him of his legal rights as the accused remained silent. According to Spence, Joseph said his name was Atiba Carr and gave the officers several addresses, one being his mother’s. When he was taken to that address, Spence said, his mother was told that her son had been arrested for possession of certain articles and that he was a suspect in Parke’s killing. Joseph’s mother, Spence said, told the officers, “Don’t bring him here because he not living here.  I put him out about two to three months ago.” Hearing continues today.