Linden London inquest
Arrest warrants issued for police witnesses
Stabroek News
January 13, 2003
Arrest warrants were on Friday issued for two absent police witnesses when the Coroner's Inquest into the deaths of Linden London and Rhonda Forde continued.
Senior Magistrate Melissa Robertson, who is acting in the capacity as coroner, issued the warrants for Detective Inspector Deonarine and Detective Corporal Winston Gravesande, who were absent for the hearing, despite prior warnings.
Both men had been scheduled to testify at the hearing on the previous Friday, but failed to appear.
London, known as Blackie, was wanted by police for a series of robberies and was killed on February 9, 2000 during an armed confrontation with members of the joint services at Toucan Suites, Eccles after an 11-hour siege.
Deonarine is to complete his testimony and tender items recovered by police from the Toucan Suites. Gravesande also has to tender an exhibit.
The Police prosecutor told the court on Friday that he had sent a message for Deonarine to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary and had personally contacted Gravesande. But both men failed to appear, and the magistrate, noting that they had given no notice to the court of the reasons for their absences, issued the warrants.
The purpose of the Coroner's Inquest is to determine when, where, how and in what manner London and Forde met their deaths and to determine if anyone is criminally responsible.
There are meanwhile conflicting reports as to how Forde met her death. It is suggested that she may have been accidently shot by the police, during the exchange with London, or that London himself may have shot her. She was discovered with seven bullet wounds in her body. The inquest is to continue on January 28.
