THE DAUGHTER of one of the four civilians fatally shot at Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7, 2003, did not testify yesterday.
The 10-year-old girl, who is a key witness for the Crown, was called to testify but she appeared very shy and would not go into the witness box.
She was taken outside and another witness was called to testify. It is expected that the girl will return to court today.
When the girl was first called into court, the prosecution asked for a short adjournment but Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe asked if there were other witnesses available in a bid to save time.
Randy Risden, 19, welder, of Kraal, was called to the witness stand. He said that on May 7, 2003, he saw a van making "a fast stop" at the gate. He said men came out of the van and as they came out they "start to fire shots".
Risden was testifying at the trial of Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams and five other policemen charged with the murder of the four civilians.
POLICEMEN FIRING SHOTS
The witness said that when he saw the policemen firing shots at the house, two women and two men were on the verandah at that time. He said the four persons ran inside the house when the shooting started.
It was suggested to the witness that he could not see the verandah from where he was at the back of his house, and he said he agreed.
The Crown is alleging at the trial, which began last week Monday in the Home Circuit Court, that the police were not acting in self-defence when 39-year-old Lowena Thompson, 47-year-old Angella Richards, 27-year-old Matthew James and 27-year-old Kirk Gordon were shot and killed.
