Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
A FORENSIC pathologist from Northern Ireland testified yesterday that it was his opinion that the injuries sustained by the four civilians at Kraal, Clarendon on May 7, 2003 were not typical of the injuries one would expect to find during a "so-called" shoot-out.
Professor Jack Crane said the injuries, in his opinion, were more consistent with the deceased having been shot in a controlled way.
He was testifying at the trial of Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams and five other policemen charged with the murder of four civilians at Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7, 2003.
SSP Adams had reported to Police Control on the evening of May 7, 2003, that they went to Kraal in search of Bashington Douglas, otherwise called 'Chen Chen' and 'Shortman', when they came under fire and returned the fire.
Professor Crane admitted under cross-examination by defence lawyer Deborah Martin that his testimony was an interpretation based on the interpretation of professor Derrick Pounder, a doctor and professor of forensic medicine at Dundee University in Scotland, who observed the autopsies.
He admitted under cross-examination by defence lawyer Oswest Senior-Smith that had he been present at the autopsies, his conclusion may or may not be otherwise.
Earlier in his evidence in chief, in the Home Circuit Court, Professor Crane was shown a body map prepared by Professor Pounder, and he described the injuries to the bodies and the path of the bullets. He said there was the possibility Angella Richards and Kirk Gordon were shot while lying on the floor or ground.
TRACE LEVELS OF GUNPOWDER
Government analyst Marcia Dunbar said she received nine labelled envelopes and transparent plastic bags with swabs which were taken from the four deceased and five of the policemen on trial. She conducted tests and analyses. She said she found trace levels of gunpowder residue on swabs from the palms of the deceased, Matthew James.
She explained that trace level indicated a small amount of gunshot residue and could result from a deposit of gunshot powder at a higher level, but with time and activity, such as washing, could be reduced. She said trace level could result from secondary transfer and explained that an individual who did not fire a gun could come in contact with a surface that had gunpowder residue.
