Police have asked for more time to find Lance Corporal Warren Blue and Special Constable Jamal Lewis, who are wanted for the murder of teenager Shaquille Grant, in order to begin the preliminary inquiry into the joint murder charge against them and constable Terrence Wallace.
Arrest warrants for Blue and Lewis had been issued by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, but the prosecution yesterday reported to her that the police have not apprehended the two policemen and needed more time to get help from Interpol and other organisations.
When the case was called at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, there was heightened security in anticipation of a repeat of the last hearing, when Agricola residents and family members of Grant angrily protested the preferential treatment being given to Wallace. At the front of the court building, dozens of police officers stood at both ends of the road with guns in their hands and most of them were on radio sets.
But there was no protest and Grant’s relatives quietly filed into the courtroom.
The teen’s mother, Shonnette Adams, stood quietly next to the prisoner’s dock where Wallace stood, as the prosecution sought more time. The court was also told that all of the 30 witnesses in the case will not be called to testify in the matter due to sensitivity of the charge and as a result the prosecution will have to seek advice from state counsel.
Attorney Sonia Parag, who represents Wallace, told the magistrate that she came to the court expecting the commencement of the preliminary inquiry. She said she did not see the reason to have the matter being put down again for another two weeks when the police were given ample time to find the other two accused.
Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry, however, said it is her wish to have all of the men appear at one inquiry, rather than have separate PIs conducted. She noted that it would be a waste of judicial time if the charges were severed and the inquiries were conducted separately.
The magistrate then granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the case to November 28.
As Wallace left the courtroom, there was tight security. Like at his last court appearance, Wallace exited the building through the back as a security measure.
It is alleged that on September 11, at Third Street, Agricola, the three policemen, who were on an operation in the community, observed that there were some young men under a shed in a yard and proceeded towards them and Grant was shot some time later.
The killing of Grant, of Lot 72 ‘BB’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was met with outrage in Agricola, as eyewitnesses said one officer was seen standing over the teen as he fired bullets into his body.
