McAllister was testifying at the inquest also into the death of Rhonda Forde, who died with London in the ‘Toucan Suites’ apartment at Eccles.

The witness told Coroner Melissa Robertson and a five-member jury that he was at a friend’s home in Republic Park/Peter’s Hall area, also on East Bank Demerara when he heard gunfire shortly before 21:00 hours (9 pm) on February 9.

He said, after the firing continued for about 20 minutes, he decided to investigate and drove north, along East Bank Public Road, in the direction from where the sounds originated.

As he reached near the Eccles Bridge, McAllister said he saw crowds on both sides of the roadway and, when he enquired what was happening, he learnt that Police had mounted an operation to apprehend someone.

McAllister, who was in charge of the Public Relations and Education Departments of the GDF, said he returned to the house where he was and made contact with the GDF Operations Centre.

The soldier on duty said he was not aware of the shooting and the witness called Woman Major Wendy Algernon but she, too, did not know about it.

McAllister said he went back to Eccles about 21:30 hours (9.30 pm) and heard that Police had cornered London in a building there.

He communicated that to Algernon, who confirmed his report and McAllister then spoke to Brigadier Michael Atherly as the GDF was preparing to deploy troops to assist the Police.

McAllister said, about 22:00 hours (10 pm), he ventured back to Eccles and stopped at the road leading to where London was holding out.

At that point, he met with Police officers, including Assistant Commissioner Henry Greene and Superintendent Gordon Gilhuys, with whom he talked and they told him London was at the ‘Toucan’ guesthouse.

McAllister said troops from Special Forces Squadron, under the command of Captain Michael Shahoud passed through the area heading in a northerly direction and retraced the route 30 minutes later.

Additional ranks from Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown arrived, commanded by Captain David Clarke and he and Shahoud were briefed by Police officers before Greene and Clarke conducted a close reconnaissance of the environs.

McAllister said, around midnight, Clarke and some of his men attempted a breach but it was aborted and more concussion grenades were requested.

Clarke positioned his team for another attempt but found the door impregnable.

McAllister said, some 45 minutes later, the grenades were brought by Captain Fitzroy Warde, commanding another set of Special Forces soldiers.

After a briefing, Warde also conducted a close reconnaissance and his squad was successful in their bid to enter the hotel but Lance Corporal Lennox Harvey was shot and they retreated to evacuate him to Georgetown Hospital.

The witness said he left the scene soon after to visit Harvey in hospital and then went to Camp Ayanganna, where he donned military uniform for his return to Eccles about 04:15 hours (4.15 am) the following day.

Captain Foo and his detachment were there with an 82 mm anti-tank recoilless gun and took up a position from where it could be fired but required a hacksaw to cut metal work and secure a clear line of sight.

By the time McAllister borrowed the tool from his friend and got back to the location, it was ‘first light’ or dawn and Foo was ready for the blitz.

The witness said, after the fourth round was discharged, someone in the ‘Toucan’ premises began shouting, saying, among the things, that the individual wanted to surrender.

The person shouted the names of others with whom he had served in the military and McAllister was one.

The witness said he sought permission from then Chief of Staff, Briagider Joe Singh, to speak to London about his surrendering and, when it was granted, McAllister called out to the fugitive, identifying himself.

He said London replied: “McAllister, if that is you, I gon come out” or words to that effect.

McAllister said he told London: “Yes’ is me, the man who trained you in the squadron” and London, wanting to be sure of the identity, asked McAllister to abandon his crouching position and stand.

McAllister said, as he stood up, he saw London from the navel upwards and recognised him to be the person he knew since 1979.

The witness said he enquired of London if he had anyone in the building and he replied: “No”.

McAllister said London volunteered to emerge but sought the assurance that no one would shoot him and the two carried on a conversation for between 20 and 30 minutes, during which he thrice requested the gunman to throw out his weapons.

The witness said Police Superintendent Steve Merai and Warde also spoke to London and promised him he would not be shot at if he surrendered peacefully.

McAllister said London threw out something through a window but it hit the grillwork and fell back inside while he continued to ask that no one be allowed to shoot him.

“I will tell you how I get into all this,” McAllister said London told him, promising to tell the witness everything.

McAllister said he wanted to speak to Chief of Staff Singh, as well and tell him “everything”.

While they were speaking, McAllister said London told him he had three options, to kill himself, surrender or “come out blazing” but the witness encouraged him not to do anything “stupid”.

McAllister said, just before he emerged from the building, London was lying on his stomach in a passageway and Warde told him: “I have you in my sights”.

London had made a request for McAllister to enter and escort him out of the building but the witness was advised against such action because he might be caught in friendly fire.

London, who was then ordered to stand, put his hands on his head and walk slowly out of the building, had made about six steps when he was gunned down in a hail of bullets, as only a fence separated him from McAllister two or three feet away.

The witness said he saw pieces of flesh flying all over the place as London headed towards a gate while crouched to observe his movements.

McAllister said Warde was giving London instructions and the latter was responding accordingly.

The witness said he repeatedly shouted: “Hold your fire” and, as London fell to the ground, he said: “Mac, you promised you not gun let them shoot me”.

McAllister said, with his expertise, he determined that the shots, which hit London, originated from where only Police officers were located.

Cross-examined by attorney-at-law Mr Vic Puran, who is representing the Police, McAllister said London was “very acute” of him, less than 90 degrees.

After saying he was immediately north of the western gate, which was about three and a half to four feet wide and closer to the post near where London was shot, McAllister said he had not personally spoken to each solider present there that day.

The witness said he never asked about the fatal shots but was given the assurance that no soldier fired.

Questioned about the command during the joint GDF and Police operation, McAllister said it varied.

“It depends on whether you are speaking of the entire operation or a particular phase of the operation,” the witness told counsel.

McAllister said the inner set of troops were under the command of Warde when London was killed and there was no communication with the outer troops during that time.

The retiree, with 25 years experience, said he had video equipment at the scene but dispensed with them during the negotiations and he did not see anyone recording when London was coming out of the building.

The witness said the attempts by Warde to gain entry were met by fire.

According to McAllister, London was shot about three to five minutes after he threw out his weapons and the lighting condition had not changed.

Answering the jury, the witness said he informed the Police that London was going to surrender.

In relation to the fire, which destroyed the place, McAllister said he saw Police ranks throwing gasolene and deliberately setting the blaze during which London walked out.
The inquest continues on June 3.