SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT of Police, Reneto Adams concluded his testimony at yesterday's 92nd day of sittings of the Coroner's Inquest into the killing of seven young men in Braeton, St. Catherine last year.
Under cross-examination by police, defence attorney, Oswest Senior-Smith, Mr. Adams testified that members of the police party were in a distressed state after the shootings.
He said that during the debriefing which took place at the "100 Man" police station on the morning of March 14, 2001, "some appeared very frightened, then some expressed that they were frightened and some appeared shocked, while others expressed wonderment at still being alive."
Mr. Adams also stated that long after the shooting, whenever he went into the house he was not sure if he was safe.
Concerning the number of people he took down to the house with him that morning, Mr. Adams said that he chose only 10 out of a group of over 55 officers because he had warrants for the arrest of two people, "and I thought the ratio of 10 to two was quite sufficient."
Regarding the warrants, the team took with them on the operation that morning, Mr. Adams said that he was told by DSP Cornelius Walker, and believed it to be true that they had two warrants and not one. It was based on the information that they had two warrants for the arrest of two people that he and the team acted.
SSP Adams said that at no time did he expect a shootout to take place at either of the three locations -- Cassava Piece, Cumberland and Braeton that he went to on that morning.
He also said that there was no open access to Fifth Seal Way, as cars were parked along the pathway. He also said that there were numerous vehicles parked in the parking lot of the community, forcing the police vehicles to park wherever they could. Mr. Adams said that by the time he had left the house which was sometime after the shooting had subsided, most of the civilian cars had been removed. However, he said that he did not ask anybody to move their vehicles nor did he know if any other officer told any civilian to do so.
Mr. Adams also said that securing the house from the residents was a problem as the "police had to stand guard with guns, their bodies and batons to prevent people from getting into the premises".
The Inquest is attempting to ascertain under what circumstances and who is responsible for the deaths of seven young men in Braeton last year March. The seven, Andre Virgo, 20; Curtis Smith, 20; Tamayo Wilson, 20; Lancebert Clarke, 19; Dane Whyte,19; Christopher Grant, 17; and Regan Beckford, 15 were killed by the police in a pre-dawn operation.
The Braeton Inquest will continue tomorrow at the St. Catherine Resident Magistrate's Court.
