Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

GRANVILLE GAUSE, acting assistant commissioner of police, will next Wednesday, execute warrants of arrest on six former members of the disbanded Crime Management Unit (CMU), who have each been ruled charged with murder in connection with the controversial shootings at Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7 last year.

"The paper work is almost completed. I am just waiting on the day for court," said Mr. Gause, who heads the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) which played a key role in the Kraal probe.

Those to be charged with four counts of non-capital murder each are Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, the former head of the now-disbanded CMU; Corporal Patrick Coke and constables Devon Bernard, Shayne Lyons, Roderick Collier and Lenford Gordon.

Constable Bernard is one of six policemen arrested and charged with seven counts of murder arising from the controversial killing of seven young men in Braeton, St. Catherine, on March 14, 2001.

The six implicated in the Kraal case were formally told about the charges in Kingston yesterday.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Kent Pantry Q.C., ruled last week that they be charged in connection with the killing of Lewena Thompson, alias 'Ferris'; Angella Richards, alias 'Angie'; Kirk Gordon, alias 'Renegade' and Matthew James.

The matter is set for mention in the Home Circuit Court.

On Wednesday, April 21, all six policemen are expected to meet at the headquarters of the BSI, downtown Kingston, where they will be formerly charged and immediately taken before the court.

They will be accompanied by their legal team, representatives of the Police Officers' Association (POA), which represents the officer corps of the Force and the Police Federation, which represents rank and file members.

Following the administrative procedure, the lawyers will apply for bail. The police team is not expected to oppose the application but it is the duty of the presiding judge to decide whether the six should be granted bail and under what conditions. The police are expected to request certain conditions, which could include that none of the six should visit the Kraal community.

Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant David White, said the Federation is bound by law to provide legal assistance to members of the federated rank, who have been ruled charged by the DPP following incidents that they were involved in, while on duty. The federated ranks ­ from constable to inspector ­ pay monthly compulsory fees to the Federation. The situation is the same in the Police Officers' Association (POA).

Ahead of next week's court date for the Kraal six, the police high command is expected to invoke or request the implementation of the public order provision to guard against any disturbances in the precincts of the court.

In addition, the police are prepared to provide protection for witnesses in the Kraal case under its Witness Protection Programme, once requested. The police are prepared to extend this protection to jurors in the case. There have been no instances in which witnesses under the programme have been injured or killed, once guidelines have been observed.

The police had reported that on May 7, last year, members of the CMU went to Kraal, north central Clarendon, in search of wanted men. The police said they came under fire and that they fired back, leaving the four persons dead. However, Kraal residents and human rights groups questioned the police version, contending that the four were killed in cold blood.