Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
Prosecution closes case in Patentia schoolboy murder trial
After calling her last witness to the stand yesterday, State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar closed her case in the matter for which Quancy John, an ex-policeman, is on trial for murder.
Kelvin Fraser
John is indicted for the murder of Patentia Secondary School student, Kelvin Fraser. John of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, allegedly shot and killed the 16 year-old schoolboy, in the vicinity of the Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on June 7, 2010.
He is currently on trial before Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed 12- member jury at the High Court.
According to reports, Constable John, who was attached to the Wales Police Station, WBD, was on patrol with other ranks, when they responded to a report that a group of schoolboys were smoking what was suspected to be marijuana in the vicinity of the school.
The students, who were dressed in casual clothing, reportedly ran helter-skelter upon seeing the policemen. John, who was armed with a shotgun, is said to have fatally shot one of the schoolboys in a bid to capture him.
The policeman had claimed that the youth was accidentally shot during a scuffle, but was later interdicted and charged with murder.
Several witnesses have testified in the matter. They include the school’s Head Teacher, Gloria Gobin; a former student of the school, Prem Seecharan; the victim’s grandfather, Leslie Fraser; former policeman, Ranwick Jack-Smith; Police Inspector Corrine Marshall; Police Detective Elson Baird and Deputy Superintendant, Linden Lord.
Last Thursday, Police Detective Elson Baird told the court that Officer John claimed that the schoolboy grabbed the shotgun and a fight ensued; it was during this time, he claimed that the firearm went off fatally injuring the teen.
Yesterday, the Prosecution closed its case after the court heard testimony from Ballistics Expert, Sergeant Eon Jackson.
The witness told the court that he had examined the firearm and ammunition used in the incident. He said that on June 14, 2010, the items were handed over to him by Police Inspector, Corrine Marshall.
The items, which he identified as a 12- gauge maverick pump action shotgun and matching cartridges were wrapped in separate parcels bearing police seals and identification numbers. Another envelope, Sergeant Jackson said, contained twenty-seven number five (5) lead pellets and a shot cup, all components of the cartridge. He noted that the weapon and ammo could be identified by specified markings, which were affixed to them.
The ballistics expert had told the court that he had examined the shotgun, and found that it was in working condition.
During his testimony, the witness explained that five pounds of pressure must be applied to the trigger of the gun, before it could have been discharged.
However, while under cross examination by Defence Attorney Glenn Hanoman, the witness noted that although there was no safety lever on the firearm, it could not have been discharged easily. He said that force or pressure must be applied to the trigger before a round could have been discharged. He further explained that “neither yanking nor pulling action” could have been sufficient to discharge the firearm.
The witness later emphasized that in discharging the firearm ‘’pressure,” must be applied to the trigger either deliberately or by the person holding onto it.
The shot which was discharged is said to have wounded the teenager at the upper left side chest, near his collar bone.
On Monday, State Pathologist Dr. Vivekananda Bridgemohan told the court that Fraser had died from shock and haemorrhage, due to the gunshot injury. He said that based on the wound he had examined; the teen would have been shot at close range and died almost instantly. Dr. Bridgemohan said the pellets which entered the teenager’s body damaged a lung and several of his internal organs.
Yesterday, Sergeant Jackson said that in his expert opinion, if the firearm was discharged closer than two feet away from its target, there wouldn’t be much spreading of pellets about the body.
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