-police witness
An inspector on Wednesday maintained that the statement given to police by Bel Air heist accused Rayon Jones was made voluntarily, although the man’s lawyer alleged that he was assaulted and later deceived into doing so.
Jones, Chandraradha Rampersaud, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon, and Hardat Kumar are on trial for the July 12, 2011 armed robbery of Rampersaud’s daughter, Annie Ramsood, from whom over $7M in local and foreign currency was taken.
When the trial continued on Wednesday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Inspector Julius Wright took the stand to testify about taking Jones’ statement.
Wright explained to the court that on July 13, 2011 at the Brickdam Police Station, he took statements from Jones, which was signed by him showing it to be authentic. But Jones’ attorney Randolph Kirton objected, saying that violence was inflicted on his client to force him to sign the document, without a lawyer present.
Kirton added that Jones was later induced into providing the police with a caution statement, after they told him that if he signed the documents he would be able to go the same day with his documents (licence, ID card etc).
Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman asked Kirton to clarify who tricked his client and who were the officers involved in the alleged beating.
In reply, Kirton noted that his client was placed under “duress” in “Mr. Chapman’s office,” where he was accompanied by “Lance Corporal Bowman” and “Inspector Gravesande.” He said Chapman threatened to strike Jones with a metal object if he didn’t provide them with a caution statement.
Kirton also said that the officers placed a plastic bag over Jones’ head, after hitting him with books about his head.
Later, during Wright’s testimony, Hanoman asked him to explain the details of the interrogation.
Wright said that he was summoned to Chapman’s office, where he met Chapman, Gravesande, Jones and Chapman’s secretary all seated. Wright said that Jones sat “still” in the chair, which after he told him that he was in receipt of information that he and others were a part of the robbery of Annie Ramsood. He further stated that Jones started to tell him a story and he stopped him and cautioned him that he can put his statement in writing, while also notifying him that he had the right to have a relative or a friend to witness. Wright then said that Jones said that he did not want anyone to be present. He noted that at no time was any force used against Jones nor was any sharp silver object in Chapman’s office.
Wright said Jones collected the statement, looked at it like he was reading it and then said that he understood and signed the statements.
Kirton then asked Wright if he knew who brought Jones and what time.
Wright in response said that he later learned that he was brought by his uncle, Leslie Sobers, the day before.
Meanwhile, Detective Corporal Desmond Johnny, who is deemed an expert crime scene photographer and examiner, told the court that he examined and dusted the gun which was allegedly used to shoot at police officers, in the aftermath of the robbery. Johnny said he later discovered the gun’s magazine had eight live rounds. He said he dusted the firearm but was unsuccessful in finding finger prints.
Johnny added that he also entered the home of Ramsood and discovered an open safe and he dusted it for fingerprints but was unsuccessful.
The trial will continue on Monday.
