(Trinidad Express) On the night of May 4, 2014, when senior counsel Dana Seetahal was shot dead, the killer who came almost face to face with her used a Galil rifle.
This was revealed by senior intelligence sources with inside information who explained that following extensive ballistic tests which had been recently completed, they were able to verify the type of gun used.
They said the main shooter was a contract killer from east Trinidad who was not in police custody up to late day.
However, they have intensified their search for him following information they recently received from informants, some of whom are incarcerated.
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams had said many months ago that they did seek foreign help in the investigation.
However, in a news release issued yesterday, the Williams lashed out at the media for publishing stories on the current status of investigations, with special emphasis on a newspaper report that a FBI official may be assisting in the investigations.
“The TTPS considers it extremely irresponsible the naming of any officer/individual from any agency or organisation who may or may not be assisting with the investigation,” the release stated.
Newsday on Sunday reported that FBI agent Patrick Farris was helping local investigators.
Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, Stephen Weeks, said in a brief interview yesterday that it was “an open police investigation” and he would not comment on whether or not the FBI was assisting local authorities.
However, several months ago former minister of national security Gary Griffith had alluded to the Government seeking help from the FBI.
Williams in his release also stated he was “mindful of the legitimate public interest attending the investigation; and in regard, urges restraint in any form of media reporting or commentary and calls for an absence of speculation which could possibly hamper the investigation”.
Even after Williams made statements last week that Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harold Phillip would be approaching the Director of Public Prosecutions (Roger Gaspard SC) soon, he indicated in his release yesterday that media reports “are inconsistent with the progress of the investigation thus far and manifest obvious distortions with material facts of the case”.
