KILLING AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Story taken from our C O U R Tsection.

THE last words to come from the mouth of a dying Constable Carlos Guerra were, “ah going to dead, tell my wife and children ah love them.”

The dying declaration was repeated by Constable Nigel Bennett as he gave evidence yesterday in the inquest into Guerra’s shooting at the Old Police Headquarters, St Vincent Street, and his eventual death at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital on the morning of August 12, 2005.

The inquest continued yesterday before Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court. Israel Khan SC and Ulric Skerritt are seeking the interest of PC Sheldon Narine whose conduct is being called into question. Inspector Kenneth Cordner is looking after the interest of the Police Services. Hearing continues next Wednesday.

Bennett, a member of the elite Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS), said he returned from an exercise in the Belmont district on the night of August 11, 2005. Also returning to Police Headquarters were Narine, Guerra and PC Lenny Dowlat. They had gone out on inquiries relative to a report of kidnapping of a Venezuelan.

Bennett said he saw that Narine and Guerra were in the process of handing over two mini Uzis to WPC Gustav. “I saw that Constable Narine was in the process of clearing the Uzi by pointing it to the roof. In about 25 to 30 seconds, I heard a loud explosion and debris falling from the roof. It sounded like a firearm going off. I ducked down and I ran out of the office.”

Bennett continued, “I heard WPC Gustav screaming. I went back to the office. PC Narine was bawling. His left hand was covered in blood which was spurting. I heard PC Guerra groan and I turned around.

“I turned around and I asked Guerra what had happened. He said he got shot. I asked him where, and he said in his belly. He said he going to dead and to tell his wife and children that he loved them. I told Guerra nobody going to dead here.”

Bennett said he called EHS and he grabbed the keys to one of the police vehicles. He told Narine and Dowlat to bring Guerra. After Guerra was put in the vehicle, Bennett said he turned on the siren and drove up St Vincent Street towards the hospital.

After Guerra was taken into the emergency room, Bennett said he called his seniors. He was later informed that Guerra had died.

CORONER: That area where Guerra was shot, was that a designated area for cleaning weapons?

BENNETT: There was no designated area.

CORONER: What is the normal practice for the cleaning of weapons, whether singular or collectively?

BENNETT: Some clean their weapons in the yard and others in the office.

CORONER: In the presence of others? What was the practice at that time?

BENNETT: There was no normal practice at that time.

CORONER: Did you know Guerra personally?

BENNETT: I knew him by name. We worked together for a year or more. We were friends, but not close friends. Guerra and Narine were the best of friends. I used to see them interacting and they were always together.

CORONER: What did they talk about?

BENNETT: Most of the time Guerra talked about his family. Narine spoke about music and what work he had to do.

CORONER: Were you aware of any problems between them?

BENNETT: No.

CORONER: How was Narine when Guerra was shot?

BENNETT: Narine was in a mess. He wasn’t thinking about his wound. He was saying don’t let Guerra die Guerra boy, ah sorry, ah sorry, ah sorry.” I told him don’t take on this thing, is an accident.

CORONER: Why did you tell him don’t take it on?

BENNETT: Narine was involved in a car accident with an officer who was injured, now this.

Questioned by Israel Khan SC, Bennett said he heard that Narine and Guerra trained together at the Barracks, they came from the same batch and they were like brothers. “The whole AKS knew that Narine and Guerra were close.”

Bennett said when members of the AKS go out on duty, they look out for each other. He admitted that they work under extreme conditions and that their weapons must always be in a state of readiness.

The AKS officer said that two weeks prior to this incident, they were on duty in the Santa Cruz forest looking for the missing US war veteran Balram ‘Balo’ Maharaj. He agreed that the Americans were down their throats to find Maharaj. Apart from Maharaj, the AKS were also investigating other kidnappings. He said he was aware that the FBI were in Trinidad looking for Maharaj.

Bennett said he received counselling from a psychiatrist the day after Guerra was killed.

TOMORROW: Cop involved with cop’s wife?