A September 11 date has been set for the start of the preliminary inquiry involving six police officers accused of the shooting deaths of Moruga residents Abigail Johnson, Allana Duncan and Kerron "Fingers" Eccles last July. Yesterday the officers, acting Sergeant Khemraj Sahadeo, Constables Renaldo Reviero, Glenn Singh, Roger Nicholas, Safraz Juman and Antonio Ramadin, appeared before Princes Town First Court Magistrate Rae Roopchan for the July 22, 2011 incident. Johnson, Duncan and Eccles were fatally shot at Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore the night of July 22, last year. Assistant Commissioner of Police Raymond Craig laid the charges against the police officers. Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard is personally prosecuting the matter, together with Gilbert Peterson SC and instructed by Eileen Greene. Yesterday when the matter was called at 9.55 am Roopchan said the matter had been set for trial for September 11. It will be presided over by Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne, who is the presiding magistrate for the First Court. Gaspard agreed with the trial date.
When Roopchan said, "To start," Gaspard replied, "That is the position." Attorney Ulric Skeritt, together with Senior Counsel Israel Khan and instructed by Celeste Jules-St Louis are representing the officers. Skeritt apologised for Khan's absence yesterday and agreed to the adjournment date. A seventh officer, WPC Nicole Clement, was charged together with the officers. However, the charges against her were discontinued. She was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony against her male colleagues and is facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. It will be the first time in local history that six serving members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police service will face the court to answer a joint charge of murder. A digital audio recording system has been installed in the courtroom to expedite the recording of evidence in the matter.