?Six police officers, including an acting sargeant, were committed yesterday to stand trial for the murders of Abigail Johnson, Alana Duncan and Kerron "Fingers" Eccles, all of whom were killed in a police encounter in 2011.
Yesterday?Senior Princes Town Magistrate Debra Quintyne ruled that the prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard?SC and Gilbert Peterson SC, made out a prima facie case against acting Sergeant Khemraj Sahadeo and Constables Renaldo Reviero, Glenn Singh, Roger Nicholas, Safraz Juman and Antonio Ramadin for the deaths of three Moruga residents.
Her ruling comes mere days before the second anniversary of the deaths of Johnson, Duncan and Eccles in Barrackpore on July 22.
This is the first time in local history that six serving members of the T&T Police Service will be on trial for murder.
Quintyne, who overruled a no case submission by attorney Israel Khan SC, assisted by attorney Ulric Skerritt and instructed by attorney Celeste St Louis, told the officers that they were committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the San Fernando Assizes.
The accused officers appeared sombre as Quintyne delivered her near hour-long ruling recounting the testimony of Wpc Nicole Clement, who was initially jointly charged with the six officers for the murders, and other witnesses including ballistic and forensic experts.