At Demerara Assizes
THE judge and jury, in the ongoing murder case at the Demerara Assizes, on Tuesday heard that a Police patrol returned fire at two silhouettes on Buxton Middle Walk Dam, East Coast Demerara, injuring one man while the other fled.
The testimony was given by  Police Superintendent Eustace Trotman, of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), who said he was detailed for duty at Buxton in 2004, when the ranks were shot at.
The witness said that the wounded man who fell was later identified as the accused, Trian Sumner and was arrested and charged with murdering Odingo Bryan.
Led by State Prosecutor Judith Girdharie-Mursalin, Trotman said he was with the others when he saw what appeared to be silhouettes of two human beings about 50 yards in front of them and heard a gunshot originating from that direction.
According to him, the point man in his team fired back, resulting in one of the figures being hit and the other escaped.
Trotman said he called other ranks because he observed that someone had been injured on the knee and, among those who responded was Assistant Superintendent Kingston.
The witness said the allegation about the killing was put to Sumner but he remained silent.
Trotman denied a suggestion that the accused Sumner was asleep on his farm at Buxton when he was shot and wounded, telling Defence Counsel Basil Williams there was no farm in the area.
Police Sergeant Chabinauth Singh, who also testified, said he was stationed at Sparendaam Station on May 29, 2004, when he went to Buxton Railway Embankment and arrested Squince Mc Lennon after putting the allegation about the unlawful killing to him.
Singh said, prior to May 29,  efforts had been made to arrest Mc Lennon but he could not be located.
The witness said he took Mc Lennon to Vigilance Police Station and placed him in custody there but, for security reasons, he was, subsequently transferred to Cove and John Police Station, also on the East Coast of Demerara.
Singh said, on May 30,  Deputy Superintendent Wilson administered the caution to Mc Lennon, again, when the latter denied that he killed the victim.
The trial continues today, with Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire presiding.