Testifying at the inquest into the death, also of London’s female companion, Rhonda Forde, Lance Corporal Kurt Sobers said he did not feel justice had been done by the fatal shooting of the notorious bandit.

Following Senior Superintendent Steve Merai and Constable Eustace Abraham nicknamed ‘Robo Cop’, both of whom regretted the killing, as well, the witness was giving evidence before Coroner Melissa Robertson and a five-member jury.

Speaking about what took place at Toucan Suites, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Sobers said about 20:00 hours (8 pm) on February 8, 2000, as a result of certain information received, his unit, under the command of Merai and including late Superintendent Leon Fraser, Abraham and himself went to the guest house, dressed in uniform.

Sobers said he was armed with an M-70 rifle and 30 live rounds.

On arrival at the place, he, Fraser, Merai and Abraham entered the yard through a western gate and Merai approached the bottom flat of the apartment building where London and the woman were occupying a room.

Merai knocked on the door and drew automatic gunfire from within which shattered several windows and the witness, Abraham and Fraser took cover behind the western fence of the compound.

Sobers said tear smoke grenades were among the things hurled from the building into the yard and exploded as the cops fired back shots.

Then the door to the apartment opened and the woman was pushed out, groaning loudly and crawling in their direction, wearing a blue jersey and dark coloured pants.

Sobers said Fraser attempted to move her but more gunshots prevented him from doing so.

About 02:30 hours on February 9, the witness said Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks arrived, led by Captain Fitzroy Warde, who was immediately briefed by Fraser and Merai.

Sobers said he and the other policemen stepped back and formed an outer cordon while the soldiers created an inner and concentrated gunfire on the building.

Fraser and the GDF soldiers returned to the apartment complex while he and Abraham lifted the injured woman and placed her in a Police vehicle, Sobers recalled.

The witness said, at that stage, Fraser and the GDF troops emerged with an injured soldier who was also put in the same GFF 4379 that took off for Georgetown Public Hospital.

Sobers said he was still in the outer cordon about 06:15 hours as soldiers proceeded to a nearby yard, west of the apartment hotel and fired an anti-tank gun at the edifice.

Maintaining his position, the witness said he overheard a conversation between the soldiers and someone in the apartment building.

Sobers heard a voice saying: “Give up yourself and come out of the building. We will protect you and you will get your justice.”

Following that, there was more gunfire and someone said London had been shot, Sobers remembered.

The witness said he had his gun in his hands pointing upwards with the safety (catch) on and Fraser and Abraham were with him on the western side of the fence, as close as 16 inches from each other.

Sobers said Abraham’s gun was pointing in the air, too, but he could not say how Fraser’s was positioned.

The witness said he and Abraham broke from their cordon and went into the yard where they saw London lying motionless on his back, clad in a light blue bulletproof vest, short pants and Army boots.

Several gunshot wounds were visible on one of London’s arms, both legs and about the body.

Sobers said he could not remember hearing anyone ordering the ranks to shoot or not shoot.

He said he and Abraham picked up London’s body and went with it in the very vehicle that had previously gone to the hospital.

On the way, they were in the rear of the open back pick-up.

Asked by Coroner Robertson if he had enquired who shot London, Sobers said he did not.

The witness said if he had done the shooting he would have admitted it but Merai made the inquiry and got no answer.