Bombshell question at police inquest:

THE INQUEST into the death of PC Carlos Guerra took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when a lawyer asked a witness if she knew about the police officer with $300,000 in kidnap money at his home. The unexpected question shattered the quiet of the courtroom.

It came from Rangee Dolsingh SC, who is looking after the interest of the Guerra family. Dolsingh called the name of the police officer but Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls asked the media to be responsible and not identify the officer.

At the time, WPC Julia Gustav, of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, was in the witness stand, giving details of the circumstances surrounding the shooting of PC Guerra at Police Headquarters on August 11, 2005.

It was the first appearance at the inquest for Dolsingh who was only retained on Tuesday.

While Coroner Mc Nicolls, Israel Khan SC and police prosecutor Inspector Kenneth Cordner dealt with the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Dolsingh went in another direction. He asked Gustav whether she was on the exercise when the Nath brothers were kidnapped last year.

She said no, but said that Guerra and PC Sheldon Narine were there. She could not remember who led that exercise, but it could have been ASP Nedd. She said she was at the AKS office in Port-of-Spain taking a statement from a suspect.

Dolsingh then asked about the police officer. Gustav said she knew this officer, but did not have any dealings with him. She said this officer came to the AKS office, but would speak to senior officers.

“Is that the same officer whom they found money in his home?” Dolsingh asked. Khan jumped off his seat, irritated and aggravated. He objected to the line of questioning coming from a member of the inner bar.

“Let it be known that it is Rangee Dolsingh who said that, not me, Rangee Dolsingh, not me. He comes here making wild statements for the media. He makes these statements knowing that they were made in a court of law and he cannot be sued. Let him go outside and make these statements,” Khan added.

Coroner Mc Nicolls intervened, “I hope it is not a wild statement coming from Senior Counsel.”

Dolsingh said it was not as it would become relevant at a later time.

CORONER: What relevance is this?

DOLSINGH: As a result of the examination, certain things may happen.

KHAN: Senior Counsel is doing this to get it in the newspapers. This is not a mere allegation, this is the.......... To cast aspersions on this person is a very serious thing. To ask this officer this, is to cast aspersion on the whole police service. To snatch this question out of the air is to encourage rumour mongers and the people he satisfies.

Khan asked that the name of the police officer not be reported in the media in fairness to the officer whose name was called.

The matter did not end there. Khan raised it. Gustav said after the kidnapping of the Nath brothers, about 20 AKS officers went on that exercise.

KHAN: Do you know anything about this police officer and $300,000?

GUSTAV: I read it in the newspapers.

KHAN: In the weeklies?

GUSTAV: No, it was in one of the dailies, I can’t remember which one.

KHAN: Did you hear the rumour that somebody killed Guerra and Narine was taking the rap for it?

GUSTAV: No.

KHAN: Did you hear that somebody shoot to kill Guerra and Narine?

GUSTAV: No.

KHAN: How would you describe this incident?

GUSTAV: This was an unfortunate accident.

KHAN: On that night, were you confused.

GUSTAV: Yes.

Earlier in her evidence, Gustav said she was at the AKS offices on August 11, 2005 when around 11.50 pm, four of her colleagues, Guerra, Narine, Bennett and Dowlat returned. She was heading to the property box to lodge the firearms which her colleagues had for the exercise. She remembered Guerra following her when suddenly she heard a loud explosion and a burst of gunfire.

“I got up and saw a firearm on the floor. I asked, ‘somebody get shoot? Guerra said, ‘is me.’ I asked ‘where’? Guerra said, ‘in meh belly.’

Gustav ran to the corridor and called for help. When she returned, she saw Narine holding his hand with blood flowing. She saw Guerra on the floor, saying ‘tell meh wife ah love she, tell meh wife ah love she.”

Hearing continues on June 27. (See page 7)