The case against Ashton King and Sean Hinds is moving at a fast pace. The prosecution proposes to call five more witnesses before closing its case.
Yesterday, the Preliminary Inquiry continued before Magistrate Adrian Thompson with tight security at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. At the hearing yesterday, Detective Constable Herbert Henry, Detective Corporal Cedric Gravesande, both of whom are stationed at the La Penitence Police Station and Sergeant Eon Jackson attached to the ballistic section of the Criminal Investigation Department, gave their evidence in chief.
They were subsequently cross-examined by Defence Counsel Compton Richardson.
The three officers gave evidence about their involvement in the investigations following the death of Shafeek Bacchus, a Princes Street cattle farmer.
Bacchus was reportedly murdered outside his home at Princes Street, Lodge, on January 5, last, at about 19:20 hrs when gunmen reportedly opened fire on him.
Following Shafeek’s death, his brother, George Bacchus, (who is now deceased) reportedly fingered the Manager of Auby’s Wine Bar, Mark Thomas; proprietor of A&D Funeral Home, Ashton King; and former policeman, Sean Hinds, as the persons who shot his brother.
Thomas collapsed when the charges were being read to him and was hospitalised; he later died in hospital.
The Director of Public Prosecutions was forced to restart the case after Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen withdrew from the Inquiry.
Magistrate Holder-Allen recused herself, after self-confessed death squad informant, George Bacchus disclosed that she was at one time targeted for death.
The now dead ‘informant’ contended that the Chief Magistrate’s name was featured on a list that he had seen. The PI will continue next Thursday.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Adrian Thompson has set July 29 as the date for the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of two police officers at the Brickdam Police Station.
Solomon Blackman, an ex-policeman, who reportedly committed the murders, went on a shooting spree earlier this year that left two of his former colleagues dead.
Those killed were Superintendent, Richard Griffith, of the Brickdam Traffic Office and Lance Corporal Ramnarine Latchana.