Deceased was known as a nuisance — witness

AS the “fisherman” murder trial continues in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury on Thursday, two more witnesses testified.

Retired Ballistics Expert Eon Jackson took the stand where after an application made by the state was granted by the judge, he was shown the exhibits and gave a demonstration as to how a shotgun was used.

Ex-cop and former security supervisor at Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. Collis Grant, testified that he was a cop for one and half years and in 2014 he began working at the private company at Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara.

He stated that he was trained in the use of firearms and his duties entailed the placement of security guards at the company’s premises.

Grant recalled that on January 29, 2015 at about 08:05hrs, he was on duty as he outlined the guidelines that should have been followed by the armed security guard in the event of an incident.

He related that the armed guard was only expected to fire the weapon when he sensed serious danger or if he was fired upon.

Grant said the accused was the only armed guard that day and he was issued a 12-guage shotgun with three rounds of ammunition, was placed at the wharf area and his responsibility was to protect employees and the company’s assets.

The witness told the court that on January 29, 2015 at about 08:35hrs, he was performing duties at the front gate at Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. when he received a radio message stating that the deceased whom he refers to as “Rastaman” was fishing under the wharf.

Grant added that he then went to the security tower to oversee the entire wharf area and did not see the accused, after which he received a call which stated he was needed at the wharf.

He noted that he went to the wharf and when he did not see the accused he asked for him and was told that he was in front. Then he tried to ask him what had happened and only saw him after the incident.

He testified that on January 29, 2015 at about 16:35hrs, he was summoned to the station where he was present when the accused gave a caution statement to which he affixed his signature.

The witness was shown the caution statement which he identified by the date and his signature after an application made by the state was granted and the caution statement was tendered as evidence in the trial.

Meanwhile, under cross-examination by defence counsel Everton Singh-Lammy, the witness was asked if the security guards were under threat; he said they were every day since it was illegal for fishermen to fish near or under the wharf.

Grant said the fishermen used to threaten to kill them and their families and said they would be waiting for them when they get off work at 6pm or whenever they chased them off.

He related when questioned that he was familiar with the deceased, whom he was told was a nuisance by Chief Security Officer Lionel Bullen; and he asked him whether he ever reported the matter to the police and was told he did.

In her opening statement, state prosecutor Lisa Cave told the court that on the day in question an unarmed security guard asked the deceased to remove from the area. He did not.

Thereafter, another security guard who was armed with a gun, discharged that loaded firearm at Pollard, thereby, resulting in his death.

The state’s case is that the accused Marlon Callendar allegedly shot and killed the deceased at Pritipaul Singh Investment Wharf at Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara on January 29, 2015.

The matter continues at 09:00hrs on Friday (today).