Senior Superintendent Philbert Adams, who is stationed at Eve Leary, Georgetown, said so in answer to the five-member jury at the inquest into the deaths of the notorious bandit and his female companion, Rhonda Forde.

"...he should have given himself up long," the witness said when questioned at the sitting presided over by Coroner Melissa Robertson.

The witness said he felt sad on seeing London's wounded body because he is a friend of the dead man's brother.

Giving his version of the preceding events, Adams said, on February 8, 2000, he was Officer-in-Charge of Crime at Police 'A' Division, based at Brickdam Station, when he received a telephone call from 'Operations Room'.

He said the 11:30 p.m. caller, Woman Inspector Marshall informed him that London was surrounded in an apartment building at Eccles, East Bank Demerara and was firing gunshots at the Police.

Adams said he switched on his television set and saw the scene on Channel Six before he got dressed and went to Eccles Public Road where he parked his car.

The witness said he proceeded to the access road that runs North to South outside Toucan Suites guest house and stopped about 70 yards North of the premises.

Gunfire rang out from the place and shots were being fired at it, said the veteran of 30 years experience.

Adams said he was in a drain about three feet East of the access road from where he assessed the situation.

He said, about 02:45 hrs on February 9, he saw Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers and other Police moving towards Toucan Suites and heavy gunfire was exchanged before the ranks withdrew from the compound.

Adams said, about five minutes after another burst of gunfire, some troops ran towards the complex and emerged with two injured persons.

An injured man was placed in a GDF vehicle and the other person in a Police automobile and both were driven away.

Subsequently, the witness said he gleaned from a Police radio transmission set, between two and three feet from him, that one of the hurt individuals was GDF Private Harvey and the next a female whose name was unknown.

At approximately 03:20 hrs, one more burst of gunfire erupted from different calibre weapons, like shotguns and automatic pistols, Adams said on the basis of his knowledge and training.

Then policemen and soldiers crept to the outer perimeter of the concrete fence at Toucan Suites and called out for London and 'Blackie' repeatedly, asking him who else were with him and he replied that there were three others but did not give names.

Adams said only policemen were behind the eastern fence but soldiers were also in a building on the southern side of the guest house, on the verandah and in the yard.

The witness said he, Superintendent Leon Fraser (since deceased), Senior Superintendent Steve Merai and Constable Abraham (called 'Robo Cop') were on the western and northern fences while more policemen and troops were across the access road, too.

About 05:45 hrs, Adams said he left the shooting scene and went to the public road for coffee when he met Assistant Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and then GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Joe Singh.

The witness said he briefed them on what took place during the night, before going back to the western side of Toucan Suites where he saw soldiers set up an 82 mm recoilless gun facing East and aimed it at a door on the lower flat of the besieged building.

Four shots were fired at the target and the witness said he saw dust, smoke and fire after the blast.

The flames originated from the second flat and the roof and he returned to the western side of the fence to take cover.

Merai and Abraham were also there but nearer to a guard hut outside and Fraser near an intersection.

No soldier was positioned close to Merai and Greene was in the yard on the western side with other Police officers.

There, as well, was Captain James McAllister, with a video camera which he handed to a private prior to calling for 'Blackie'.

Adams said London and McAllister were involved in a conversation after the latter identified himself.

Among other things, London asked who were the other persons at the back of the building and the witness said he advised McAllister not to answer that question.

London then enquired for Merai who was at the front and Fraser who Adams could not have seen.

Allister had a pistol in his waist but, on the advice of Adams, relieved himself of it.

Coroner Robertson wanted to know if it was better for McAllister to go without a weapon and the witness replied that the latter would have been in less danger not having the gun.

Adams said McAllister entered the building but ran out because of the intense heat.

The witness next saw something thrown out from the front of the edifice and he heard ranks from the western side saying: "He coming out".

Adams said he left his position and was proceeding to the road for a clearer view when he heard gunshots from all angles.

"I plunged to safety in the middle of the access road with my head facing East and I was lying on my tummy," the witness recalled.

Someone shouted: "Hold your fire" but Adams did not recognise the voice and, in about two minutes, shooting resumed and some policemen and soldiers ventured into the yard and emerged with London who they put in a pick-up vehicle.

Adams said the wounded man was some 12 feet from him and he noticed wounds on the lower leg, parts of the head and shoulders.

The witness maintained that he was not able to say who shot London about two feet outside his apartment door, leaving him unconscious but breathing.

After London was removed, soldiers retrieved about eight rifles and shotguns and eight concussion grenades, claiming them as Army property abandoned after Harvey was shot.

Adams said he gave Clarke a pump action shotgun with a burnt stock as the Fire Service started to put out the blaze.

The witness said he and others checked the room London occupied and found a quantity of different calibre firearms and ammunition, including two 12-gauge shotguns, one AK-47 automatic rifle, one 9 mm 'Browning' pistol, a 'Taurus' revolver and a 'Sterling' submachine gun with serial numbers erased, all of which were handed over to Assistant Superintendent of Police Armstrong and Inspector Deonarine.

Adams said he prepared a statement about a month later but the coroner said the one in her possession is dated September 19, 2000.

The witness explained by saying it is possible that was the date on which the typist typed the document.

Adams said he spoke to retired Brigadier Singh on October 12, 2000, when he was Chairman of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and asked him to submit a statement but his response was that he "did not want to mix politics with the incident."

Attorney-at-law Mr. Vic Puran, who is representing the Police, declined to cross-examine Adams.

Cross-examined by the jury, the witness also stated that he was about 20 yards from the person who was shouting: "Hold your fire".

"Did the Police need information from 'Blackie' as to where he got the weapons?" was another question from the jury, to which Adams replied: "Yes, the more information you get, the better".