Constable who shot Shaka Blair denies squad went intentionally to kill him
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
August 7, 2002
Police constable Keswin Benjamin told coroner Brassington Reynolds yesterday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s court under cross-examination that he shot at Shaka Blair twice but not until he was fired at with a round that did not hit him.
Benjamin was at the time being cross-examined by attorneys-at-law Basil Williams and Raphael Trot-man who are looking into the interest of Blair’s reputed wife Simi Ragnauth and her children in the Shaka Blair Inquest.
Under cross-examination by Trotman the policeman said that his squad on the night of April 6 had employed the element of surprise to capture Blair who was eventually shot and killed.
Benjamin who was using an M-70 rifle at the time said that he was never trained to use the weapon in training school. He said that he, however, learnt about the weapon when he became a member of the Anti-Crime Task Force known as the “Black Clothes Squad” four years ago and received his training from Sergeant Eon Smith.
According to the policeman, on the East Coast of Demerara there is an Anti-Crime Unit at Cove and John Police Station which covers Buxton where Blair had been living. He remembered that some time back that very unit came under fire by unknown gunmen at Coldingen. One officer who was hurt in the attack subsequently died.
Benjamin told the coroner that on the night of April 6 while on the patrol on the East Coast, Senior Superintendent Steve Merai had stopped at Lusignan and spoke briefly with someone. He said that he could not recognise the person Merai spoke to because it was dark.
He admitted that when Merai re-entered the vehicle they were patrolling in, he did not radio to Georgetown but said immediately upon entering that “we are going to Buxton in search of one Shaka Blair for arms and ammunition.”
Benjamin said that he did not hear Merai at any time asking for permission to go to Blair’s home after speaking with the person at Lusignan.
Benjamin testified that he did not know that there was a search warrant for Blair and he only learnt about it when he arrived at Buxton. The constable also said that he did not hold the document. Benjamin stated that when they entered Blair’s house, he rapped on the bedroom door and stepped back and then stood in front of the doorway with his M-70 rifle at the ready. He said when the bedroom door opened Blair was standing inside some nine feet from him with a gun. Blair then discharged a round at him which missed, Benjamin said. He could not say yesterday where the bullet went, but acknowledged that there was a wall behind him. Benjamin said that neither he nor Merai entered Blair’s room that night. He said, however, that Smith went in.
Describing the police’s tactics that night under cross-examination by Williams, the policeman said that they were using stealth to get Blair. He said that they made no noise, pointing out that no police siren was put on. At Blair’s premises, he said, some of the officers surrounded the house to ensure that Blair did not escape.
When asked whether he thought that he was in danger when he entered Blair’s yard, Benjamin said ‘yes’ but insisted that he felt secure standing in front of Blair’s room.
The policeman denied that his squad went intentionally to kill Blair that morning and said they were in search of arms and ammunition. He maintained that he did not know Blair prior to his death.
Benjamin denied a suggestion by Williams that he only stood at the doorway because he knew that he was safe. He said that his unit had agreed earlier that when they saw Blair they would arrest him. He also said that they did not discuss whether they would have reason to shoot him.
Meanwhile, under further cross-examination by Williams, Ragnauth who completed her time in the witness box said that the reason why she shouted, “Steve! Steve is me husband” is because she knew that Blair was innocent and that whenever the “Black Clothes” turn up at someone’s house at that hour of the night it would be to kill that person.
She said that Blair had a long list of phone numbers of policemen because he was a dance promoter and had a stereo set that would play at different functions. She said as such Blair had to make contact with the police whenever he was promoting events.
Further, she told a three-member jury under cross-examination that her front door had four bolts and all were bent after the policemen broke her door.
Ragnauth said that prior to her husband’s death they would secure their home with all of their lights on. She said at no time did the police tell her husband that they were going to take him into custody. She said when Blair was identified at the mortuary he was wearing only his underpants. The inquest will continue today.