AS the fifth day of the Linden Commission of Inquiry progressed on Friday at the Supreme High Court Law library before the Commission, cross examination of Assistant Superintendent (ASP), Patrick Todd, Attorney James Bond continued.

Bond who had begun his cross examination on ASP Todd the previous afternoon was forced to stop as the adjournment period arrived and returned the following morning to continue his cross examination.
Bond representing APNU began by seeking the reasons and assignment of weapons used in the unit for the day in question as ASP Todd indicated that it was he who did the selection of the weapons, men and other logistics as Unit Commander.
ASP Todd was later asked to describe the shotgun, revolver, 9mm pistol and FN rifle he took in his unit to the commission by Bond as he did in detail and the experience of the men he selected for the operation.
The question of protection of life and limb was then tendered by the attorney as he advocated that it was ASP Todd who had done all the shooting and had caused the death of the three persons who died after the incident on the day in question.
Bond who questioned the use of grenade tear smoke as against the use of the shot gun cartridges used during the dispersal of the crowed at the bridge as the Unit Commander ASP Todd explained in detail the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the use of the various weapons in the unit as the need arose.
Asked of the experience of the men who were assigned the shotguns, ASP Todd told the commission that they were trained and the situation before them was challenging and he took the shotgun as Commander and experienced and did the shooting.
Attorney for the three deceased Mr. Selwyn Pieters then took over for a short period questioning ASP Todd on his career in the Guyana Police Force which commenced in 1983. In 1984 Todd was posted to the Tactical Service Unit where he remained until today.
Asked about pre-secondary education and other developmental and training courses Todd explained all in detail as was asked by Pieters as he made mention of some of the training with the FBI, Scottish Police and the UN Peace Keeping Organisation.
Pieters who sought to find out the regular working hours of a police officer was given an indefinite answer as he continued on the question of uniform.
He then made reference to the total amount spent on the area of the bridge on the day in question seeking information against the working hours earlier given and continued asking on the permission given to use firearm during the period of the latter visit to the bridge.
Pieters then concluded and his colleague Mr. Nigel Hughes who came out with a diagram of the area in question and sought various positions from ASP Todd as to he and his unit’s position during various engagements during the latter period of the day in question.
Police Attorney, Mr. Peter Hugh objected to the tendering of the diagram since there was no scale to it and they continued to place makings to create a picture to the commission on the matter. The drawing was tendered as an exhibit and was taken into custody by the Secretary of the Commission as the session adjourned for this morning at 09:30 hrs when the cross examination will continue. It is expected that the Commission will visit the scene of the bridge in Linden during this week.