Cop says gun went off during struggle for weapon

WHEN the hearing of the Patentia schoolboy murder trial continued yesterday, the jury heard that the cop who is on trial had claimed that his gun went off during a struggle for the weapon.

At the Demerara Assizes, a mixed jury before Justice Franklyn Holder, presiding, is trying former policeman Quancy John for the alleged murder of Kelvin Fraser.
Fraser was shot to death on June 7, 2010, when police invaded the school to quell an unrest by alleged dope smokers and sellers who were said to be interfering with female teachers of the secondary school.
Assistant Superintendant of Police Elston Baird, one of the witnesses who testified yesterday, told the court that on June 8, 2010 he and other officers visited the Wales Police Station where PC Quancy John was on close arrest as a result of the Patentia shooting the day before.
According to Baird, he identified himself to John telling him that he was stationed at the office of Professional Responsibility and he was there assisting in conducting the investigation into the alleged shooting of Kelvin Fraser.
He enquired from John whether he would take him to the scene and he obliged.
The accused took the party, including Cpl Grannum and Assistant Commissioner Jameer, to Third Street, Patentia. No caution was given to John.
Witness said that the accused pointed out to the party where the alleged incident occurred.
Witness added: “The policeman said that the young man was running and I told him to ‘freeze’ and he stopped running. I told him to come over a drain where I was standing. He came. I was holding the gun in my left hand around the middle, the nozzle was pointing upwards.
“I was holding him with my right hand and he grabbed the gun and we started a struggle and the gun went off,” witness said the cop told him.
ASP Baird said that no one in his presence ever put the allegation of murder or manslaughter to the accused because they were not investigating murder or manslaughter.
In answer to defence counsel, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, witness said that the investigation was completed in four or five days after the 8th of June, 2010.
Baird said that at the end of the fifth day he was unable to appraise himself what the evidence constituted. He said that Assistant Commissioner Jameer, the most senior person, might be able to so avail himself.
Miss Diana Kaulesar is conducting the case for the prosecution.
The hearing is continuing.

(By George Barclay)