News

Braeton seven shooting traumatised cop

By BARBARA GAYLE, Staff Reporter

ONE OF THE policemen who was a member of the police party, who had gone to the house in Braeton, St. Catherine, where seven young men were shot and killed said yesterday that he found the shooting incident "nerve racking" because he almost got shot.

Detective Corporal Karl Winston McFarlane, made the disclosure as he continued his testimony yesterday at the trial of the six policemen charged with murder.

He said because of the effect the incident had on him, he had made an application to leave the criminal investigation branch of the police force. He said he had told his wife he wanted to leave the force. After the incident, he said he had to get treatment from the doctor.

Four firearms that were allegedly recovered inside the house after the shooting ended on March 14, 2001, will be tendered in evidence today.

The six policemen have been on trial in the Home Circuit Court since Monday for the murder of the seven men at 1088 Seal Way, Braeton.

The officers are Corporal Leighton Bucknor, Constables Miguel Ebanks, Devon Bernard, Wayne Constantine, Linroy Edwards and Raymond Miller.

The policemen are charged with the murder of Christopher Grant, Andre Virgo, Lancebert Clarke, Curtis Smith, Dane Whyte, Tamoya Wilson and Regan Beckford.

Entered house

Detective Corporal McFarlane who was testifying for the Crown, said yesterday that when the shooting ceased, he had gone inside the house. He said he found two firearms on the floor, and two others were handed to him by one of three policemen who were in the house. He searched a bedhead and found 29 assorted unexpended cartridges.

Under cross-examination by attorney-at-law Oswest Senior Smith, he said to his knowledge, no one was taken from the pathway to the inside of the house and shot.

Cross-examined by attorney-at-law Patrick Atkinson, Detective Corporal McFarlane said he was aware that on March 13, 2001, that the police were investigating a double murder at Above Rocks, St. Catherine. The victims were a police officer and a civilian. The investigation also involved the shooting of a woman at the public telephone booth in front of the police station at Above Rocks.

He said he was also aware that the police were investigating the murder of a principal called Teacher Morris whose murder took place near Braeton.

Three policemen testified yesterday that they were instructed to take a total of seven injured men from Braeton to the Spanish Town Hospital on March 14, 2001.

Patrick Green, a labourer, said one of the deceased, Curtis Smith also called 'Gairy' was his nephew.

Cross-examined by attorney-at-law Lloyd McFarlane, he said Smith was not a bad man. He admitted that he did not know whom Smith lived with at the time of his death. He said he knew that Smith was taking care of the house in which he was killed.

The trial continues today before Justice Donald McIntosh and the 12-member jury.