Shaka Blair was first to shoot
-second police witness
Stabroek News
August 28, 2002
A second police witness testified before coroner Brassington Reynolds yesterday that the late Shaka Blair of Buxton was the first to shoot on the morning of April 6 when he was killed.
The policeman, constable 17561 Belfield attached to the Anti-Crime Task Force of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is the second police witness to take the witness stand since the Coroner's Inquest into Blair's death began.
The first was Keswin Benjamin who is still under oath and to be further cross-examined. Senior counsel Bernard De Santos is representing the police and Basil Williams is looking into the interest of Simi Ragnauth, Blair's reputed wife. Ragnauth has already concluded her testimony.
Belfield told the inquest he has been a police officer for over four years. He said that he was first trained as an officer of the Tactical Service Unit in 1996 and later was transferred to the Target Special Squad in 1998 where he is currently serving. The policeman disclosed that within the TSS there are two units, one headed by Senior Superintendent, Steve Merai and the other one by Sergeant Eon Smith.
According to the constable, Merai heads Unit A, while Smith leads Unit B. He is attached to Unit A and he added that Smith is responsible for conducting all training courses in the unit. Belfield said that he is familiar with the circumstances under which a police officer should fire at someone but is not au fait with the procedure for effecting a search warrant.
Giving an account of what transpired between April 5-6, Belfield testified that on April 5 he was stationed at TSS headquarters, Eve Leary. "I was on duty, when at about 2200 hrs that night Merai gave certain information with respect to one Shaka Blair of Lot 43 Middle Walk, Buxton, to prepare a search warrant." He said the information alleged that Blair was unlawfully carrying arms, ammunition and explosive devices. He said he prepared the search warrant and at around 2230 hrs he and Merai went to Duke Street, Kingston to the home of former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Justice of the Peace Kassim.
He said at the home of Kassim, he heard Merai telling the JP that he was in possession of a search warrant to search Shaka Blair's home for arms, ammunitions and explosive devices. "Kassim read the information on the warrant in the presence of Merai and I and then swore to the information and signed," Belfield said.
He said at about 2255 hrs he and Merai returned to base and at this point a party of policemen, commanded by Merai departed for the lower East Coast on patrol. The party, Belfield said, included himself, Merai, Smith and Benjamin, Constables Roberts, Mars, Ferrel, Thomas, S. Denny, R. Denny and Valentine. He said that they all left together in the force's vehicles, numbers
PFF 2885 and GGG 6207, driven by S. Denny and Valentine, respectively dressed in navy blue uniform and armed.
Belfield said that he was in PFF 2885 along with Merai, Roberts, Benjamin and Mars. The other vehicle was commanded by Smith. The constable testified that around one hour after leaving the Target Base he saw Merai speaking to someone at Lusignan. Leaving the person, he said Merai then instructed that they were going to Buxton to one Shaka Blair.
Belfield said that upon arrival at Blair's home at around 12.30 am on April 6, constables Roberts, R. Denny, Thomas, Ferrel and Mars cordoned off Blair's home. He said Valentine and S. Denny remained in the vehicles, while he, Benjamin, Merai and Smith proceeded up the wooden stairway on the western side of Blair's house. Reaching Blair's front door, Belfield said that Merai instructed Benjamin to rap on the door and as he did a male voice inquired "who it was". He said Merai replied police adding that he had a warrant to search the house.
He said the male voice responded that he was not opening any door. Belfield said Merai then instructed Benjamin for the second time to rap on the door which he did and the same words were heard from the male voice. He said Merai then said "I am going to break down the door" and the male voice said "break it if you want." Belfield told the coroner that Benjamin was then instructed to make a forced entry which he did using his shoulders and entered the house followed by Merai, himself and Smith. In Blair's house Merai again instructed Benjamin to rap on Blair's bedroom door and as he did Blair inquired whether they were police from Vigilance. He said Merai said no and soon after the bedroom door was flung open and a woman with a child ran out turning east.
He said suddenly Blair appeared in front of them with a gun in his hand and discharged a round in their direction. He said Benjamin who was standing about 4-6 feet away from him returned two rounds hitting him. He said Blair then fell to the ground and his gun fell out of his hands. Belfield said he and Merai then assisted the wounded man down the stairs and later Smith and Benjamin accompanied them.
Blair was taken to the Georgetown Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The constable maintained that at no time during the confrontation did he discharge any round from his rifle. The inquest will continue on September 3, when Benjamin will be further cross-examined and Belfield will continue his testimony. (Nigel Williams)