Under the watch of heavily-armed police, four men appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday charged with the murder of police sergeant Hayden Manwaring.The accused, Kerron Nicholas Garcia, 19, Kofi Cropper, 40, Anthony Clement, 37, and Kelvin Wallace, 23, complained to the magistrate about police brutality and death threats.
Curious onlookers gathered outside the courtroom as policemen walked the four accused from a police van to the courthouse.One of the suspects tried to hit a photographer with a bag, demanding that no photographs of him be taken.The four were arrested after Manwaring, 42, was shot and killed while trying to apprehend robbery suspects at Butler Street, San Fernando, on February 19. PC Nicholas Phillip was also shot during the incident. The four were charged by Insp Seemungal Rampersad of the Homicide Bureau.
The accused appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the First Court jointly facing five charges, including murdering Manwaring, possession of a firearm and ammunition and robbing three people of cash, jewelry and cellphones at Mom's Diner at Cipero Street on the same day.
Garcia alone was charged with stealing a $4,600 Smith and Wesson pistol and 9mm ammunition valued at $30 belonging to the T&T Police Service from Manwaring. He was also charged with shooting at Phillip with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.The men were not called upon to plead to the charges. Police prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said the file had to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a state attorney to be appointed to prosecute the matter.
Through attorney Gideon McMaster, the accused expressed fear for their safety at prison, claiming the police had threatened to kill them. McMaster said Wallace and Kofi also complained that they were injured when they were beaten by police.While McMaster was listing the allegations against the police, prosecutor Seedan complained to the magistrate that Wallace had threatened to shoot him by making the sign of a gun at him.
McMaster said Garcia was shot and upon his arrest was beaten badly, and while he was hospitalised two men dressed in police uniform removed his chest tube.While McMaster was asking for the accused to be taken for medical treatment, Clement vomited in the holding dock, but the magistrate did not notice.
The prosecutor said all the accused were treated by Dr Ragoobar and could be medically examined at the prison infirmary.The magistrate told McMaster, who held for attorney Ravi Rajkoomar, to write to the Commissioner of Police about the allegations made by the accused men. He remanded them into custody and adjourned the matter to April 5.