Following Senior Superintendent Steve Merai, who also regretted the killing, Police Constable Eustace Abraham nicknamed ‘Robo Cop’ was giving evidence at the inquest into the death of London and his woman companion, Rhonda Forde before Coroner Melissa Robertson and a five-member jury.

After giving details about what transpired on February 9, 2000 at ‘Toucan Suites’ hotel, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, the witness told the jury he and other policemen had gone there to apprehend, not to kill him and he felt sorry that London died.

“I felt sorry for his family, because they had lost a loved one and, if he was arrested, he would have helped to solve a lot of unsolved crimes,” Abraham said.

Asked by the jury, how he felt about that London being shot after he had surrendered, the witness said: “If someone surrenders to the Police and is shot dead, it is wrong”.

The jurors questioned Abraham after attorney-at-law Mr Vic Puran, representing the Police, declined to do so.

The witness also said he did not know what part of the body Forde was shot because, he and the other cops of a different gender, could not raise her blouse which was covered with blood.

Abraham recalled that, about 20:00 hours (8 pm) on February 8, 2000, his unit received certain information and, as a result, under the command of Merai, he, Superintendent Leon Fraser and Lance Corporal Sobers proceeded to the guest house, dressed in uniform.

The witness said they were each armed, he with a 12-gauge compact shotgun.

Abraham said, on arrival, they entered the yard through an open western gate and went towards the room which was supposedly occupied by London and Forde.

Merai knocked on the door, announcing their presence and, immediately, there was the sound of automatic gunfire coming from inside, shattering glass windows around.

The witness said he, Constables Hughes, Denny, Lewis, Belfield and Valentine, Merai, Fraser, Sergeant Smith, Lance Corporal David and Corporal Thornhill took cover behind the western fence facing the room and they returned fire.

Grenade shrapnel and smoke were emanating from within the room and the door leading to it swung open.

The woman, wearing a blue blouse and a pair of dark coloured jeans, was thrown out and she fell to the floor, groaning loudly and crawling towards the open gate.

Fraser made an attempt to move her but was stopped by automatic gunfire which continued throughout the night.

Abraham said, about 02:30 hours (2.30 am) the following day, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers, led by Captain Warde, arrived and he was briefed by Merai and Fraser.

Warde advised that the Police ranks form and outer cordon whilst the soldiers comprise the inner.

Abraham said he, Fraser and Merai were positioned along the south western fence as the troops attempted to enter the building but were forced to remain outside because of the gunfire.

The witness said he was told that a soldier had been shot and left inside the building and Fraser accompanied some of soldiers inside to evacuate the injured rank.

Meantime, Abraham said he and Sobers lifted the wounded woman, later identified as Forde and placed her in GDF vehicle which left for Georgetown Public Hospital, about five hours after she was pushed out of the room.

The witness said, about 06:15 hours (6.15 am), as he was at the south western end of the complex, he heard automatic gunfire by soldiers aimed at the door to London’s room from in the yard opposite.

Abraham said, during the course of the night, several small fire flames were thrown from London’s room while it was in darkness.

However, when the soldiers fired at the room, the building was set ablaze and the fugitive emerged.

Abraham said he never fired his weapon and at any time when the volley erupted as London exited the place.

“My weapon was not aimed. It was pointing in the air,” the witness said.

He said he heard the shots and someone shouting that London was hit by the firing from the western section of the complex.

Abraham and he and Sobers ran to the open western gate and saw London lying on the ground with several wounds about his body, clad in a pair of red and black short pants, black army boots and a light blue bulletproof vest that could have withstood up to .32 calibre ammunition.

The witness said he did not hear anyone giving orders during the time of the gunfire.

Abraham said he, assisted by Sobers, lifted London and put him in the tray of the GDF vehicle which had returned from the hospital and London was pronounced dead when taken there.

Being a member of the Police Force for about 13 years, with training in the use of firearms, Abraham said he could have detected that the volley of gunfire at London originated from where the soldiers were located.

The witness said, from the time London was taken to the vehicle, he suffered no further injuries until he and Sobers conveyed him to the hospital.

Abraham said he had known London prior to February 8, 2000, as he had been charged with attempting to murder him, Thornhill, Corporal Young and Constable Brummell in 1996 but never appeared in Court because he was not arrested.

The witness said the incident took place on Kaieteur River when they were in a boat searching for him; London, who was wanted for previously murders, threw two grenades at the craft from the bank about 50 yards away.