Cop attests to firing two shots
Says deceased shot first
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
July 31, 2002
Two gunshots discharged by a police officer accounted for the demise of Buxtonian Shaka Blair, a police witness told Coroner Brassington Reynolds on Monday at the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court.
Blair, 32, was killed by members of the Target Special Squad on April 6, at his home in Buxton. The police had claimed that Blair first shot at them but his reputed wife, Simi Ragnauth, refuted this in earlier testimony claiming that the man was killed in cold blood.
His death sparked disturbances in Buxton and several parts of the Railway Embankment Road were cut preventing vehicles from entering the village. Moreover, since then police have been unwelcome in the village.
The inquest began last week and the first person to testify was Blair's reputed wife.
Police Constable 16860 Keswin Benjamin, stationed at the Anti-Crime Unit, Eve Leary was the first police witness to take the stand. He told the coroner on Monday that on the day in question at about 2255 hrs he and a party of policemen under the command of Senior Superintendent, Steve Merai left Eve Leary on a mobile patrol to Buxton.
The party, Benjamin said, also comprised Sergeant Eon Smith, constables Belfield, Denny, Ferrel, Thomas, Roberts, Mars and Valentine. He said they were all dressed in navy blue uniform and were all armed.
Benjamin said that he was carrying an M-70 rifle with 30 rounds in the gun and another 30 on his belt. He said that the gun was personally assigned to him. Benjamin recounted that when they left Eve Leary they made a brief stop at Lusignan where Merai stopped and spoke to someone for a short while and returned to the vehicle. He said that they were using two vehicles on the mission.
Leaving Lusignan, the patrol entered Buxton with instructions from Merai that they were in search of one Shaka Blair in connection with arms and ammunition, Benjamin said. He remembered that upon arrival at Buxton at Blair's home some of the ranks surrounded the house while, he, Smith, Merai and two other ranks went up the stairs.
Leading the way on the stairs, Benjamin said, he was instructed by Merai to knock on the door. All the while, the policeman said, his gun was at his side and Merai was immediately behind him. A male voice inquired, "who it is?"
Benjamin said that Merai answered, "Police, I have a warrant to search your house."
Benjamin testified that the male voice then said, "I am not opening no door." He said at this point Merai instructed him again to rap for a second time which he did but the voice continued, "I am not opening no door."
Benjamin told the coroner that Merai then instructed him to break down the door, which he did, forcing his way into the house. He recalled all the lights were on at the time. In the house Benjamin said he proceeded to a bedroom door on his left and rapped on it with his weapon still slung to his side. He said the male voice answered again "who it is?" Benjamin said Merai replied "police". The policeman said that he, Belfield and Merai were in the house, while Smith was at the door. He said the male voice then asked if they were police from the Vigilance Police Station and Merai responded appropriately. He said he was standing in front of the door and Merai and the others were behind him. Benjamin said the door then opened and a woman with a small child in her arms ran outside and headed east into the house.
He said that he immediately looked towards the bedroom door and saw Blair with a gun in his hands. He said that on seeing him, Blair fired a shot in his direction and he retaliated instantly firing two shots at him which caused him to fall. Benjamin said that after he shot Blair a gun, which Blair was carrying fell out of his hands. He said Blair was wearing a white vest with short pants.
He said Merai and Belfield took Blair downstairs and placed him in one of their vehicles.
Benjamin said he also heard Smith telling Merai that he found a grenade in the man's room. Meanwhile, Ragnauth who was examined by attorney-at-law Raphael Trotman who is representing her, said on Monday that while she was in her bedroom she heard persons talking outside the house but did not hear anything about a search warrant. Ragnauth who had earlier testified that she was taken out of her room by the police and placed in another room confessed that she did not witness the shooting of her late husband but could recall hearing gunshots from the room where she was placed. She said while being taken to the room she called out to Merai: "Steve, Steve my husband is innocent." She said she knew Merai well since he lives next door to her sister.
She said before the policemen entered her house she was asleep but was awakened by the loud banging on her door. According to her, while lying with her husband she did not see any gun or grenade. She also said that she did not run out of her bedroom.
She said that she and Blair had been living together for over four years and she had not been aware of him being wanted by the police for any crime. Ragnauth said that her late husband had a very good relationship with the police at the Vigilance Police Station.
She said upon entering her house the police did not show her any search warrant nor did it appear that they had searched the house. The woman said that while being escorted in the back room she asked one of the police officers why they were in her house and one of them answered "shut yuh f.....g mouth before ah kill all ah yuh."
Ragnauth said that she had also given a statement to the police and was promised a copy of it but that was not done up to now.
Under cross-examination by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, she acknowledged that after hearing the loud banging on her door she had no intention of opening it at that time of the morning. According to Ragnauth, Blair had not done or said anything to her while in the room which indicated that he had the intention of opening the door. She said no one had ever accused him of anything illegal and denied that she did not open the door because she had items inside which ought not to have been there. Ragnauth said when she was hustled out of her room by two police officers Blair was sitting on the bed with their cordless telephone in his hands. She said he was at the time speaking to ranks at the Vigilance Police Station whom he had called for help after hearing the loud banging on his door. Blair, according to Ragnauth, was once a member of the Guyana Defence Force. She said that when the police ranks left with his body she did not see any bloodstains on the floor but recovered his vest, which she kept. She also said that the only person she knew from the squad was Merai. The inquest will continue today.