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Shooting of post-election protesters…Witness identifies senior police officer as ordering ranks to open fire

Aug 09, 2012 News

Prosecution witness, 75-year-old Sarah Johnson identified Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Errol Watts yesterday as one of the police officers who ordered subordinate officers to open fire on herself and persons who were protesting following the 2011 General Elections.
Johnson appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to give evidence in the trial involving two senior members of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU); Superintendent of Police Lyndon Alves and ASP Watts. The charge against the officers states that in December last year, they inflicted grievous bodily harm on five persons, among them former Member of Parliament Joan Baveghems, Attorney-at-law James Bond and retired Brigadier Edward Collins.
Yesterday’s hearing saw Johnson giving her testimony while being led by special prosecutor Llewellyn John. The woman said that on the day in question she was walking with her friend Joan Baveghems when she saw two police officers heading towards them. The woman said that Watts (who was pointed out in court) ordered that the junior ranks arrest them. She said she refuted the officer’s order and asked how male ranks could arrest them, when a female rank is supposed to do such.
Johnson said Watts then ordered the ranks to open fire on the people around. Johnson said she received two pellet shots to her right leg. The woman said she looked at her leg and noticed that her pants was bloody. She said she along with Baveghems – who was also hit on the leg – flagged down a car which was used to transport them to the Georgetown hospital.
Johnson also said that she received medical attention, medication for her wound, and a medical report outlining the specifics of her injury.
Joan Baveghems had also taken the stand to continue her evidence-in-chief. She had returned to court to tender the medical report she was scheduled to produce to verify claims pertaining to injuries she too received as a result of the police shooting.
That however was not done by the court, as the Magistrate advised that foundation evidence was not put forward by the prosecution which could warrant the medical report being tendered. The refusal of the report by the court came as a result of objections put forward by Attorney-at-law Patrice Henry who is representing the senior officers.
In addition to evidence already given by Baveghems, the woman when questioned said that following the shooting she had difficulty walking. Baveghems said it took almost two weeks before the wound, that left a scar on her leg, healed.
On Aug 16 when the matter is scheduled to be called again, prosecutor John is expected to present the medical report of Johnson and to also lay the foundation evidence which would approve the tendering of Baveghems’ medical report.

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