KILLING AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS

IF Police Constable Sheldon Narine wanted to purposely kill his friend and colleague PC Carlos Guerra, he could have killed him in the bush during an exercise conducted by the elite Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS).

Despite a line of questioning by the Coroner, one member of the AKS denied ever seeing Narine “pushing a move” on Guerra’s wife. Neither did he see Guerra’s wife “pushing a move” on Narine.

PC Lenny Dowlat, of the AKS, gave evidence on Friday in the inquest on the death of PC Guerra at Police Headquarters on August 12, 2005. Israel Khan SC and Ulric Skerritt are looking after the interest of PC Narine whose conduct is being called into question. Inspector Kenneth Cordner is seeking the interest of the Police Service. Hearing before Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court resumes on Wednesday.

Dowlat, a member of the AKS for the past two and a half years, said he returned to the AKS offices at the old Police Headquarters around 11.45 pm on August 11, 2005. Also returning to the office were PCs Nigel Bennett, Guerra and Narine. They had returned from the Gonzales area relative to a kidnapping report.

Dowlat said as he was about to enter the room, the telephone rang. “I proceeded to answer the phone. While on the phone, I was hearing Guerra and Narine clearing their firearms, mini UZIs.”

CORONER: How did you know what they were doing? Were you seeing them?

Dowlat said he could not see them, but because of the procedure and what he was hearing, he knew they were clearing the guns. “I then heard a volley of gunshots. I hit the ground.

A few seconds later, I got up and saw debris falling from the ceiling. I looked towards Narine who was near a paper shredder. I saw blood coming from his left hand. He had the mini Uzi in his right hand and screaming.

CORONER: What was he screaming?

DOWLAT: He was saying, ‘not me again, not me again.’ He placed the mini Uzi on the ground and attempted to make it safe. I heard Constable Guerra shouting that he had gotten shot. He was saying tell his wife he loved her. He was holding his belly. Narine came over to Guerra and picked him up.”

Dowlat continued, “I asked Guerra if everything was alright. He said he got shot. I told him not to worry, we will take him to the hospital. I was confused, I did not know what to tell him.

CORONER: Why were you confused?

DOWLAT: It is different when something happens to a colleague and friend than with somebody you don’t know. I saw a wound on Guerra’s left arm. We took him downstairs to a vehicle. We put him in the vehicle to go to the hospital. Narine kept asking Guerra, “you up, you waking?”

Guerra replied, “shut up, shut up, ah in a lot of pain.”

Dowlat said Guerra was taken into the emergency room and later he found out that his colleague had died.

CORONER: Would you say that Guerra and Narine were good friends?

DOWLAT: Yes, very good friends. I used to go to Guerra’s home. Sometimes when we work, Guerra, Narine and I would go to his home. Like on Sundays, his wife would cook us lunch. That was about three times a month. Sometimes in the night, we would go there and get sandwiches.

CORONER: Do you know Guerra’s wife?

DOWLAT: Yes, I know her by Kim.

CORONER: How did you know she was called Kim?

DOWLAT: Guerra used to call her Kim......

CORONER: Did you see Narine talking to her?

DOWLAT: Yes, Narine used to talk to her.

CORONER: What did they talk about?

DOWLAT: Normal things, good morning, good evening, and things like how are the children.

CORONER: How long did you stay at the Guerra home?

DOWLAT: We were working, so we didn’t stay there long. For lunch, we stayed about 20 minutes. Mrs Guerra was very hospitable.

Questioned by Israel Khan SC.

KHAN: You all used to always go in the bush. If Narine wanted to kill Guerra, he could have killed him in the bush?

DOWLAT: Yes.

KHAN: Did you ever see Narine pushing a move on Guerra’s wife?

DOWLAT: No, sir.

KHAN: Did you ever see Mrs Guerra pushing a move on Narine?

DOWLAT: No, sir.

KHAN: Was Guerra very close to his wife?

DOWLAT: Yes.

KHAN: Was he fed up with the Police Service?

DOWLAT: He told me he wanted to start his own business.

KHAN: As members of the AKS, did you get training from the FBI?

DOWLAT: Yes, sir.

KHAN: So you were fortunate to be selected?

DOWLAT: I was fortunate.

KHAN: Would you say when you come out of the bush, you are very tired?

DOWLAT: Yes, very.....

KHAN: Are you aware that the AKS gathers information for the Special Branch?

DOWLAT: I am not aware of that.

KHAN: So, you said that this was an accident?

DOWLAT: Yes.

KHAN: Were you aware that the bullet hit a steel beam in the roof, ricocheted and hit Guerra in his chest?

DOWLAT: I am not aware of that.

KHAN: How long did Narine spend in hospital?

DOWLAT: Maybe, three to four days.

KHAN: Guerra did not blame Narine for what happened?

DOWLAT: No, but Narine blamed himself.

KHAN: As far as you are concerned, Guerra and Narine were bonded as brothers?

DOWLAT: Yes, sir.