Investigators testifying at the trial of Regan Rodrigues who is accused of murdering political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, say that the same gun used to kill Crum-Ewing had been found in Rodrigues’ Riverview, Ruimveldt residence.
According to the police officers, the accused had admitted ownership of the .32 Taurus pistol which he said he had for some years prior, as a means of protection for his family.
The jury before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown heard from police witnesses that Rodrigues had told them of having bought the gun, which had previously been used to kill someone else.
Defence attorney Adrian Thompson who represents Rodrigues has, however, challenged the testimonies of the several police officers whom he contends have fabricated their stories against his client.
Thompson said that his client at no time ever made the statements attributed to him by investigators, nor was any search ever conducted at his home or in his presence.
Rodrigues called ‘Grey Boy,’ is on trial for the March 10th, 2015, murder of Crum-Ewing who was shot and killed at Third Avenue Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.
Among the several cops testifying yesterday was Superintendent of Police Mitchell Caesar who said that he had held a confrontation with the accused regarding the .32 Taurus pistol which was found at his home.
Caesar said he informed Rodrigues that ballistics had revealed that the very gun found at his house was that used to kill Crum-Ewing.
The Superintendent said that just as the accused was about to respond, he cautioned him of his rights in accordance with the judge’s rules, that he was not obliged to say anything, and that anything said might be put into writing and given in evidence against him.
Caesar said the accused then related that he had had the gun for some years prior which he had bought from a man whom he identified as “Patrick Smith” called “Pragso.”
According to Caesar, the accused then went on to relate that Smith had gotten the gun from his cousin who is incarcerated for the murder of the Rubis Gas Station Accountant at Meadowbrook.
The officer said that it was at this point that he put the allegation of Crum-Ewing’s murder to Rodrigues.
Caesar told the court that the accused then further went on to relate to him that he had not killed the political activist, but had been contacted days before by a man whom he identified as Rajput Narine who requested of him to kill social activist Mark Benschop.
According to the Superinten-dent, the accused told him that Narine told him (Rodrigues), that once he was finished with that job, another was already lined up for him to do.
Caesar said Rodrigues told him that he was unaware of who would have been the subject of the other contract, but that the accused said he surmised that it may have been Crum-Ewing.
This witness said that a confrontation was subsequently held with Narine where the story told by the accused was related to him (Narine).
The Superintendent said that while Narine confirmed knowing Rodrigues, he denied ever having such a conversation with him.
Also testifying yesterday was Detective Inspector of Police Rodwell Sarabo who said that Rodrigues had related a similar story to him during the investigations.
According to Sarabo, the accused told him that Narine had contacted him at his Riverview home where he contracted him to execute the hit on Benschop for $3M and gave him the gun in question.
Like Caesar, Sarabo, too, said the accused told him of Narine telling him (Rodrigues), that after the hit on Benschop, he would have another job which he (Rodrigues) later surmised may have been to kill Crum-Ewing.
This detective, too, told the court that when he confronted Narine, he denied ever having any such conversation with Rodrigues.
Sarabo told the court that he was in the presence of other officers who questioned the accused, who related that he had bought the gun from Smith for $30,000; which Smith had gotten from Corporal Eastman who was part of the investigation team; but now himself on remand for an unrelated murder.
Sarrabo said that Rodrigues would, however, later recant his story, saying that he hadn’t told the truth; and had only said what he did before, because the persons who “put me up fuh kill this man, still on the road.”
“I gotta face this and pay fuh my stupidness,” Sarabo said the accused then declared.
Asked under cross-examination by Thompson whether his client had never told him (Sarabo) that he did not kill the man, the detective answered in the negative.
The attorney then suggested to Sarabo that his client in fact never said any of the things he alleged he did; and that he had fabricated the entire story against him.
Sarabo, however, remained resolute that his testimony was truthful.
When asked, Sarabo told Thompson that he had gotten a description of the alleged shooter being about 6 feet tall, while confirming that the accused was not of that height.
The attorney then sought to challenge the police’s case of having any evidence against his client, but Sarabo disagreed, stating that the gun found at the home of the accused had linked him to the killing.
Sarabo, when asked, also said he knew that the accused had been previously charged with unlicensed firearm and ammunition possession in relation to the gun, and that the matter had been dismissed against him.
He said he could not say for what reason it was dismissed though, whether for insufficient evidence or so. Thompson said that his client had been found not guilty.
Also testifying was Detective Sergeant Chetram Suesankar who said that he had assisted in investigations regarding the unlicensed gun and ammo the police alleged had been found at Rodrigues’ home.
Seusanker said that when the allegation was put to the accused back in July of 2015, he replied under caution saying, “is my own. I buy it about four years now to protect my family.”
The witness said that Rodrigues did not want to put what he had said into writing; while noting that he at no time made any threats, promises or inducements to the accused to cause him to say what he said.
Under cross-examination, Thompson disputed that his client ever claimed ownership of the firearm. Seusankar, however, maintained that he did.
Police Constable Thrumaine Thomas testified that it was he who had actually unearthed the gun in Rodrigues’ home, in both the presence of the accused and other police officers.
He said he found the silver and black pistol with 14 live matching rounds concealed under a chair in the sitting room.
He told the court that he at that point put the unlicensed firearm and ammunition allegation to Rodrigues who asked for a chance, stating that “this gun do nuff things.”
According to Thomas, as he escorted Rodrigues from the premises, holding him by his boxer shorts, he managed to free himself from the grip and ran towards the Demerara River into which he plunged and escaped.
Thomas said that another officer give chase but was unsuccessful at the time in locating the accused.
Defence counsel disputed the witnesses’ testimony of his client ever being present during the alleged search. Thomas, however, maintained that the accused was present when his premises was searched.
Asked what had led them to his client’s house in the first place, Thomas told the lawyer that they were conducting normal raids in the area.
Also testifying yesterday were Crum-Ewing’s mother and stepfather; Eustace and Donna Harcourt respectively, who both emotionally recalled identifying his body to pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh for an autopsy.
The trial continues at 9 this morning.
On Monday, Sergeant Dwayne Harvey had testified to being among the party of policemen who had searched Rodrigues’ home where an unlicensed gun was found.
Harvey, too, had said that when confronted Rodrigues’ plea was, “Officer give meh a chance nah. I cannot turn in this gun. This gun did nuff things.”
