THE second preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against the men accused of killing Shafeek Bacchus started yesterday, with Magistrate Adrian Thompson presiding.
Two witnesses, Deputy Superintendent Alfred Paul from Brickdam Police Station and Detective Constable Ewin Trotman attached to the Photographic Section of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) testified.
Paul completed his evidence-in-chief and was cross-examined by attorney-at-law Mr Compton Richardson, who is representing co-accused Sean Hinds, an ex-policeman.
The other Defence Counsel, Mr Vic Puran, for part owner of A&D Funeral Parlour, Ashton King, declined cross-examination of that witness.
But Trotman, who did not finish his testimony as the magistrate had to attend another Court, will continue his deposition today.
The first pre-trial hearing ended abruptly when Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen recused herself from the proceedings following the claim by now dead self-confessed death squad informant George Bacchus that she was on the hit list of the alleged phantom gang.
George Bacchus, who went public with the allegations implicating Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj, was shot dead in the same Princes Street, Georgetown house outside which his brother, Shafeek, also died in a drive-by shooting last January 5.