Possibility that both police, soldiers fired at London - Merai
Stabroek News
June 5, 2002
Senior Superintendent of Police, Steve Merai on Monday told the inquest into the deaths of Linden London and Rhonda Forde that it was possible that the former was killed in gunfire that emanated from both policeman and soldiers.
During his account of the February 8, 2000 part of the joint forces siege at Toucan Suites, Merai had told the coroner, Melissa Robertson, of how the first attempts to enter the apartment where London, also known as `Blackie' had been holed-up was met with heavy machine-gun fire.
He also described Forde's final moments when London allegedly pushed her out of the guest house and fired at her. She fell to the ground screaming and began crawling towards the gate. Following her death, the firefight between police and London continued.
February 9: "The exchange of gunfire continued. At about 02:30 hrs, I observed the arrival of about fifteen ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). They were led by a Captain [Fitzroy] Warde. A quick discussion followed between myself, Captain Warde, and (Leon) Fraser. Captain Warde then decided that he would move into the apartment, where London was, with his men. Within a few minutes, Warde and some of his men moved into the apartment through the northern door. Police ranks remained where they were, along the western fence.
"Within a minute of the soldiers entering, I heard gunfire within the apartment. I saw Captain Warde and his men run out and take cover along the western fence. Captain Warde then informed me that a soldier was shot and was left in the apartment. I told him we would have to go back inside and get him. The soldiers then returned to the apartment and were able to bring out the wounded soldier. He was placed in a police vehicle along with the wounded woman - Constable Abraham lifted her out of the yard - and they both left for the Georgetown Public Hospital.
"The shooting continued between the police and London and at 05:00 hrs, Captain Warde decided that he would use an anti-tank missile to blast the building. The weapon was set up by the GDF in a yard immediately west of the guest house."
According to Merai's account, the soldiers would fire the weapon after more than one and a half hours had elapsed. Between 06:50 hrs and 07:00 hrs, Merai and a soldier entered the yard and approached the door of the said apartment, While Fraser, Captain Warde and another soldier took up positions just to the west of the apartment.
"After we had positioned ourselves, myself and the soldier entered the apartment and we were met by heavy machine-gun fire from within. We ran out back and took cover along the western fence. At that stage Captain Warde decided that he would fire two more anti-tank missiles into the apartment. The missiles struck the apartment, followed by loud explosions, and dense smoke, which engulfed the building.
"I'll give you the arrangement here: The policemen were on the northern side; soldiers were along the western fence and there were policemen on the south western edge of the yard. I was with Captain Warde at the western fence next to the gate. Captain Warde then began to negotiate with London, to get him to give himself up. London said he would do so only if a soldier he knew was present. Captain Warde then asked two of his men to speak to London. They did, but London refused, claiming he didn't know them. London then asked if I was there. He said yes. At that stage Warde then signalled me to move into the yard. I took up position on the western wall of the apartment.
"I began to negotiate with London to give himself up. He said he would give himself up, if I could assure him he would not be killed. I told him to throw his weapons out, but he refused. At that stage, Captain McAllister entered the yard and took up a position next to me. I then moved southward, towards the south-western fence of the apartment. McAllister then began to negotiate with London. London then told McAllister he would give himself up, if he could assure him he would not be shot."
The building, Merai testified, was rapidly being engulfed by flames, spreading all the time from the interior. The roof, he said, was also in flames and part of it fell to the ground between him and McAllister, forcing them both to retreat to different positions. McAllister ran out of the yard, while Merai took cover in a shed at the southwest of the yard. Consequently, he said, Warde entered the yard and positioned himself to the northwest of the yard, where he continued negotiations.
"London then said he was coming out. Warde instructed him to throw his weapons out. I saw London emerging within the apartment. He threw two weapons towards the western wall. They hit the wall and fell back inside. The weapons I recognised were an AK-47 assault rifle and a sub-machine gun. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and multi-coloured trunks.
"He walked westward in the apartment and then turned north in the direction of the doorway. I lost sight of him at that stage. Then I heard rapid gunfire. I then looked towards the doorway and I saw him lying on the ground outside the apartment, bleeding from the wounds about his body."
"You said you heard gunfire, from where?" the coroner probed.
"The gunfire came from the west and north of the yard. The ranks towards the southwest could not have had him in view because of the shed in the yard. The shots were coming from north and west, where the police and soldiers were. The possibility exists that it came from both the police and soldiers. Police were north and northwest and soldiers were all along the western fence."
"What happened after he was shot?"
"He was picked up and placed in a police vehicle."
Merai would go on to testify that after the fire which had been engulfing the building was extinguished, he along with Fraser and Captain Warde entered the building.
"Several other ranks entered the apartment, including ranks from the Crime Scene Unit (CSU) and Senior Superintendent Adams.
"We found several weapons, which included AK-47 rifles, shotguns, handguns, grenades and a large amount of ammunition and documents, books and a cellular phone. All these articles were handed to Adams, who took possession of them, pending further investigation into the matter.
"When they started the photography and fingerprinting, I left the apartment."
Merai, who told the jurors he was the most senior police rank on the scene, was then asked to say who gave the command to shoot.
"I don't know who gave the command to shoot. I didn't give the command to shoot."
"Did you inquire?"
"I inquired from the police and the soldiers. No one admitted who gave the command."
"Who gave you the order to go to the scene?"
"My instructions came from a senior officer."
With that the jurors had no further questions of the witness.
"Who do you report to?" the coroner inquired.
"I report to the Deputy Crime Chief, the Crime Chief and the Commissioner of Police."
"So you receive your instructions from any of these three men to move to any scene?"
"Yes."
"One more question: How did you feel when London was shot, although a promise was made to London that he would not be shot?"
"I felt betrayed by whoever shot him."
The inquest will continue on June 17 at 1 pm.