Seventh cop wanted over three T&T killings surrenders

(Trinidad Express) The seventh police officer wanted in connection with the shooting deaths of three people from Moruga is now in police custody after he turned himself in to the Homicide Bureau of Investigations office at Coffee Street, San Fernando, late on Friday.

The officer, who is a sergeant, in company with his attorney, went to the office and surrendered.

Up to late yesterday, he remained in custody.

Six of his other colleagues who were picked up at their homes early on Thursday, also remained in custody at police stations along the east-west corridor.

Several of the officers, a source close to the probe told the Sunday Express, were being interviewed by a team of investigators under the supervision of ACP Raymond Craig, head of the Professional Standards Unit.

The officers are probing the shooting deaths of Abigail Johnson and Allana Duncan, along with construction worker Kerron “Fingers” Eccles, who were shot dead by officers of the Southern Division CID and Robbery Squad on July 22.

The suspects—six policemen and one policewoman who is the mother of a six-month-old baby—range between the ages 24 and 35.

They are being housed in individual cells at the Region I Homicide Bureau of Investigations in Port of Spain, the Central Police Station in Port of Spain, Woodbrook, Barataria, San Juan and Arouca Police Stations.

The officers are being represented by attorney Subhas Panday, a former minister in the Ministry of National Security.

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, who has been advising the police on their investigations, had not made a decision in the matter up to late yesterday.

The killings of Johnson, Duncan and Eccles sparked fiery protests in the Moruga area which continued for several days, causing Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs to fly to the area by helicopter, where he met with relatives of the victims.

The police officers claimed the three opened fire on them as they attempted to intercept the car they were travelling in at the corner of Poui Trace and Rochard Road, Barrackpore.