Cop recalls visiting Club Privilege to acquire CCTV footage of shooting incident

Apr 13, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Police Corporal Gary Gordon recounted that it was until the importance of obtaining video surveillance from Club Privilege was explained that General Manager, Keisha Phillips, made contact with a technician who possessed the

Andre Rochford

password to the system.
Corporal Gordon who has been deemed an expert in Forensic Video Analysis gave evidence in the trial of Club Privilege Manager, Andre Rochford, Phillips and another staffer who are accused of tampering with surveillance footage of a shooting incident that occurred at the Club.
Rochford, 43, of 28 Victoria Street, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago; Phillips, of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara; and technician, Ronald O’Brien of D’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust have pleaded not guilty to the charge and are out on $700,000 bail each.
Particulars of the charge against them alleges that on January 9, at Main Street, Georgetown, they willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice, by deleting Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage depicting a shooting incident, which took place on that same day.
Corporal Gordon, who is attached to the Intelligence Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary recounted visiting the Night Club located at 74-75 Main Streets, Georgetown on January 9.
Upon his arrival, he said that he met with Corporal Eastman and Sergeant Williams, both crime scene detectives.
The police witness told the court that he and the other police ranks explained to Rochford that they were there to conduct investigation in relation to a report of a shooting incident. Corporal Gordon said that Rochford led them to his office where he told them that he would have to seek permission to gain access to the video surveillance room.
According to the witness, Rochford escorted him and the other police ranks to the Restaurant Area where they were introduced to Phillips and again explained the reason for their visit and the urgency in acquiring the footage.
Corporal Gordon said that he requested to gain access to the video surveillance room and Phillips informed him that she would like to have her technician present since she did not possess the password to gain access to the footage.
“Sergeant Williams again explained the importance of gaining access to the surveillance room. The number three defendant (Phillips) stated that she will have to get on to the technician and began calling him.”
Corporal Gordon continued, “She (Phillips) made contact with someone and related to us (police ranks) that the technician will be back after 4pm.”
He recalled that the crime scene investigators visited the club area but because of the lighting conditions much work was not done. He added that after placing several phone calls the general manager was given a password.
Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, had told the court that Corporal Gordon went to Club Privilege on the day in question and spoke with Rochford and Phillips.
Gonsalves said that the police rank requested to have CCTV footage from the night club and were told by the two that they were not able to hand it over. According to the prosecutor, Rochford and Phillips told Corporal Gordon that only the technician could grant them their request.
The court was told by Gonsalves that the police rank left and went back to the club later in the day to view the CCTV footage and it was discovered that some of it had been deleted.
The trial continues on April 27, before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. Former murder accused Leon ‘Whistle’ Duncan of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown has been charged in relation to the shooting. It is alleged that on January 8, at Main Street, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Seon Nedd, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.
Duncan remains on remand.

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