ANOTHER lawyer entered appearance yesterday when the inquest into the death of the so-called ‘Mandela Three’ resumed before Coroner Juliet Holder-Allen.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Robert Corbin will be representing the family of Steve Grant while Mr. Basil Williams continues to look at the interest of relatives of Antoine Houston called ‘Yankee’ and John Bruce.

Grant, Houston and Bruce were killed by Target Special Squad Police last July 29 at the junction of Mandela Avenue and Access Road in Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

On the resumption yesterday Police Constable Eustace Abraham was further cross-examined.

The witness told Williams that, when the car carrying the trio stopped, they emerged from the vehicle and one of them ran away but the other two remained at the scene where he was with Superintendent Steve Merai.

Abraham said he did not get the opportunity to move closer than about 15 feet to any of the men before the shooting started.

He said the policemen maintained their crouching position and returned fire and he later observed that two of the three were bleeding from wounds on the upper part of their bodies, from waist up.

Abraham could not remember if any of the wounded men suffered injuries to the head, face and back but he recognised Houston on the ground with blood on his jersey as he lay on his back.

The witness said he, Merai, Fraser and officer Smith were the first cops to reach the injured men. They approached them together and Smith took possession of the firearms they had in their right hands.

Houston had a sub-machine gun, Grant a 9mm pistol and Bruce a revolver.

Abraham said he could not say whether the men were alive when they were placed in a Police vehicle and taken to Georgetown Public Hospital for attention.

Questioned by Corbin, the witness said he has been in the Police Force for about 13 years and attached to Target Special Squad since its formation in 1996.

Asked how he would recognise suspicious looking persons, Abraham said four men in a car, two at the back and two in front with the two leaning forward as though they were giving instructions to the driver does raise suspicion.

He also cited the early morning time.

Abraham said his focus was on the three men who exited their car and, when the shooting began, everyone sought cover and the driver grasped the opportunity to escape.

Abraham said he had known Grant as the latter was once arrested in his presence and was wanted for many crimes since 1996.

Answering Mr. Vic Puran, who is counsel for the Police, Grant said he did not expect to meet armed men that morning.

The policeman said he was taken by surprise and his reaction to shoot was spontaneous.

He was fearful for his life when the guns were pointed in his direction and he reacted with the intention of disarming the shooters, not executing them.

Williams mentioned that the post mortem reports have not been submitted despite repeated requests by families of the deceased and the Coroner expressed concern at the disclosure although she was in possession of a note stating the documents are with the Police.

Puran undertook to make the documentation available when the proceedings continue on January 16.