Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
DEFENCE LAWYER Oswest Senior-Smith told the 12-member jury in the Kraal murder case yesterday that there was an operation "to get" Senior Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams.
He said it was because of that operation that the other policemen, including Corporals Shane Lyons and Patrick Coke, were caught up in it. He said he would not say who was behind the operation.
Senior-Smith who represents Corporal Lyons was addressing the jury in the Home Circuit Court.
SSP Adams and corporals Coke and Lyons have been on trial since October 31 for the murder of two women and two men at Kraal, Clarendon on May 7, 2003.
The Crown closed its case on Tuesday and lawyers began addressing the jury yesterday.
RETURNED FIRE
In unsworn statements from the dock the policemen said they went to Kraal in search of Bashington Douglas, otherwise called 'Chen Chen' and 'Shortman', who was wanted for murder and other offences. While on their way to the house, they were fired at and they returned the fire.
Senior-Smith in his address accused the Director of Public Prosecutions of lampooning and vilifying the legitimate mission that took place at Kraal. He said there was evidence that the mission to Kraal started from the Commissioner's Office .
He said the Crown did not call United Kingdom forensic scientist Mark Mastaglio because he had evidence capable of exonerating and vindicating the policemen. Senior-Smith noted that the prosecution said the policemen went to Kraal with "murderous intent" and, if that were so, they would have taken the firearms which the prosecution said were planted at the crime scene.
He said the gunmen at the house at Kraal on the day of the incident had no regard or respect for life, limb and property and, even with women inside, they fired at the police party. He asked the jury to find that the policemen had to return the fire in order to protect the lives of themselves and their colleagues. He also asked the jury not to believe the evidence of Constable Tyrone Brown, who testified to the planting of the Taurus pistol, and Constable Donovan Brown, who said he was searching a man in the house when he heard a shot and the man fell to the floor.
Prosecutor Terrence Williams said that, despite suggestions by the defence lawyers that 11-year-old Shanice Stoddart was coached, there was evidence to support her testimony. He said although she said she was confused about things which took place at the house, that did not make her a teller of untruths.
