A PH taxi driver yesterday was convicted by a nine-member jury in the Port-of-Spain High Court of shooting at two police officers while attempting to evade a police roadblock in 2000. Marlon Ross, of Eastern Quarry, Laventille, stood silently in the dock of the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court as the jury returned with guilty verdicts for six shooting and firearm-related offences. Ross was before Justice Malcolm Holdip on charges of shooting at Inspector Henry Dann and Sgt Michael Veronique and two charges each of possession of arms and ammunition. According to the prosecution's case, both officers were standing on the Lady Young Road, Morvant, when they noticed Ross' vehicle approaching them.
The officers said they signalled to Ross to slow down but instead they said he increased his speed in an attempt to drive pass them. They said they then heard several gunshots coming from the vehicle. The officers returned fire which caused Ross to swerve and run into a cliff. Ross and two occupants of the vehicle were arrested after the collision. Two guns and spent shells were found in the car. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo, who prosecuted the case, explained to the jury the other two occupants of the vehicle also were charged with the offence but they were both murdered while awaiting trial. In his defence, through his lawyer Ian Brooks, Ross claimed the two other men had hired him to transport them and the guns belonged to them. Ross is expected to be sentenced for the six offences on July 16.