No felony committed in Guerra killing:

POLICE Constable Sheldon Narine burst into tears yesterday soon after Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls ruled that he was not criminally responsible for the death of his colleague and close friend PC Carlos Guerra at the offices of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 11, 2005.

The ruling came after Narine testified at the inquest, and after short addresses in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

Mc Nicolls stated, “I have listened to the witnesses (15) in this matter. I find the facts that no indictable offence was committed. No one is suspected of having committed an indictable or arrestable offence. I find it was as a result of an accident,” Mc Nicolls added.

As soon as Mc Nicolls left the courtroom, Narine burst into tears and hugged his relatives in court. Members of the Guerra family left the court, disappointed at the outcome. One relative added, “I am not worried, there is a God above.”

During his testimony, Narine, who has been a policeman for six years, denied that he murdered Guerra, that he and Guerra were in a homosexual affair, that he killed Guerra for Guerra’s wife, or that he killed Guerra on behalf of a senior police officer.

Narine, who was suspended following Guerra’s death, said he reported for duty at Police Headquarters around 2.30 pm on August 11, 2005. Around 7 pm, he and Guerra left for Arima to serve a summons. On reaching Macoya, Narine said he received instructions to return to office as there was an emergency.

In answer to the Coroner, Narine said he turned around and headed to Port-of-Spain, although they were closer to Arima. He said Guerra was a stickler for carrying out instructions so they returned to office.

On their way to the office, Narine said they stopped at Church’s Chicken on Independence Square where Guerra bought something to eat. On their return to the office, Narine said they heard about the kidnapping of a Venezuelan national in the Belmont/Gonzales area. Narine said he had a pistol and was happy with that. But Guerra insisted that he carry an Uzi and brought one for him. They went out and returned around 11.40 pm. He said he went to the AKS office to clear his Uzi. “I pointed my weapon up to what I considered to be a safe direction. I began to carry out the clearing of the firearm. I believed that I removed the magazine. As far as I can recall, I removed the magazine and I placed it on my person.”

Narine said he disengaged the safety pin and ejected a live round which was in the chamber of the Uzi. He triggered off the weapon, hoping to hear the normal click, but what came out was rapid gunfire.

Narine felt a sharp burning sensation to his left hand. He looked in the direction of his colleagues and then he heard Guerra say, “Oh God, I get hit, I get hit.” Guerra sat on the floor and then lay on his back. Guerra said, “tell meh wife and children ah love them, because ah dead tonight.”

Narine said he dropped his weapon and ran to Guerra, “Oh God, doh say that, doh say that, please.” Narine saw Guerra holding his side and there was blood on his jersey. Narine picked up Guerra and ran towards the car park. He was placed in a car and they headed for the hospital. On the way, Narine told Guerra, “fight it for me, you have your wife and children to live for. I say, Carlos, ah sorry, ah didn’t mean it.” Narine then began to cry. He stated, “I tell Guerra to hold on, we have plenty to do, bro.” Guerra replied, ‘stay quiet, ah in pain.” I told him I cannot stay quiet.”

When they reached the hospital, Narine pleaded with Guerra to hold on. Two nurses came towards Narine who started to feel dizzy.

He saw a group of doctors coming out of a room with Guerra. Narine said he was taken to Ward 13 after he was treated for his injury. He asked what happened to Guerra and was told that his colleague had passed away. Questioned by the Coroner, Narine said he visited the Guerra home often. After Guerra’s death, he has not been back to Guerra’s home in Valencia.

As far as he was concerned, he followed the correct safety procedure on the night in question. “I am just sorry this whole thing happened. It is so unfair,” Narine told the court.

Questioned by his attorney Israel Khan SC, Narine said he never disrespected or “pushed move” on Mrs Guerra. Since the incident, Narine said he heard several rumours. “I heard that Carlos and I were in a homosexual relationship and it went sour so I killed him. I heard that I was involved in a relationship with his wife, so I wanted to get him out of the way, so I killed him. I heard it had to do with money, so I killed him. I heard about $300,000 that I killed him for.” Narine said he even heard that someone else shot at Guerra and himself and that the hierarchy of the Police Service put him up to take the blame.

“I did not murder Guerra,” Narine told his attorney. Narine said during Guerra’s funeral service, someone got up and stated that his friend was assassinated. “I bonded with Guerra as a brother.”

In answer to Rangee Dolsingh SC, who looked after the interest of the Guerra family, Narine admitted that Guerra died because of his action. But he could not tell the court how Guerra was shot. He said his gun was pointing up in the air. He denied that Guerra ever told him that he was fed up with the Police Service. He said Guerra wanted to open his own business to be closer to his family.