Alleged cop killer case botched
THE trial of a man accused of killing a police officer was aborted in the Home Circuit Court on Friday, after a police officer testifying in the matter blurted out to jurors that the accused was a gunman and murderer.
Following Thursday’s outburst of Deputy Superintendent Winchroy Budhoo of the Hunts Bay Police Station, Justice Paulette Williams discharged the jurors on Friday, explaining that a lot of “prejudicial evidence” was given by Budhoo that would prevent the accused from getting a fair trial.
Budhoo, a prosecution witness, was being cross-examined by attorney Vincent Wellesley on the opening day of the trial when he said that on May 12, 2005, when his colleague was killed, he was armed with a warrant for the arrest of the accused Ian Francis.
He further said that he went to the premises in search of “the enemy to include Francis”. Styling Francis as a gunman, Budhoo told Wellesley that “gunmen don’t sleep at one yard” when questioned about the accused’s address.
At some point during the exchange, a visibly upset Budhoo constantly raised his voice and had to be reminded by Wellesley that as a senior officer he was familiar with court protocol and knew the rules of evidence and what was required of him.
Budhoo – when asked by Crown Counsel Tanya Burke during re-examination what he meant by “the enemy” – explained that “the enemy” is “anyone who shoot at the police” and “go round and murder people”.
Budhoo further botched the case when he blurted out earlier to Burke during evidence-in-chief that the warrant he was armed with “was for murder”.
Francis, who lived at 16 Pelican Parade in Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11, was on trial for the murder of Constable Desmond Douglas on May 12, 2005. Allegations are that Douglas died as a result of shots he received when he and colleagues were fired on by gunmen during a visit to 16 Pelican Parade.
Budhoo said during cross-examination that “less than 10 men were arrested for suspicion of the murder” of the police. Only Francis was charged.
The new trial is scheduled to start on June 25.
