Covid19 halts probe into deaths of Bharatt murder suspects
Mc Donald Jacob. Photo by Sureash Cholai
THE investigation into the deaths of two murder suspects in police custody has been paused as investigators have either tested positive or are primary contacts for covid19.
Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday, DCP Mc Donald Jacob said 30 per cent of the investigating team is in quarantine. He said the investigation has reached the stage where the investigators are awaiting guidance from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the next step.
So far a total of 27 people have been interviewed, including members of the Defence Force, the Special Operations Response Team and the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) in relation to the deaths of Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon.
Sorting out SORT
7 Hrs Ago
File photo: Members of the Special Operations Response Team at the scence where three people were shot dead by officers assigned to the unit in Santa Cruz in April 2020. -
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith announced the appointment of Supt Roger Alexander as the new head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) on Wednesday.
Supt Alexander is a popular police presence on television. At SORT he replaces Insp Mark Hernandez, who is facing charges of misbehaviour in public office following allegations of encouraging the beating of a suspect in custody for questioning about the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt.
Law Assn: Rowley wrong on cops entering private property
Law Association president Sophia Chote, SC. -
THE Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago said the Prime Minister is wrong to suggest that police can enter private properties to enforce public health regulations. To do so, the association said, would be illegal.
Dr Keith Rowley was speaking at a news conference in Tobago on Thursday to announce stricter measures to deal with the rising number of covid19 infections and deaths.
He said, “I expect there will be greater observation of the request and demand that house parties, family gatherings, liming by a house next to a bar and those kind of things, that the already overworked police will go one step further, and where they believe the activities taking place which are inimical to the public interest, that under the protection of existing law the police will intervene.”
Photos of the day: April 28, 2021
Canons stand strong at Aboud Circular, Bellevue Road, St. James on Wednesday. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle
Newsday photographers captured some of these images reflecting the past 24 hours in Trinidad and Tobago. Other photos were submitted by readers like you.
If you d like to be featured in our daily photo galleries, please e-mail us a photo to news@newsday.co.tt with the caption Photo of the Day and we will pick one photo each day to feature, with a few sentences about the photographer.
Annie who sells fresh flowers at the roundabout in Marabella, says she s anxious for the upcoming Mother s Day sales. As she watered the flowers she said she believes flowers give people a reason to smile despite the pandemic. - Photo by Marvin Hamilton
Former SORT head: My son is not a member
Insp Mark Hernandez
FORMER head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Insp Mark Hernandez has denied an attorney s claims that his 19-year-old son is a member of the unit.
On Sunday, attorney Gerald Ramdeen, who was until recently part of Hernandez’s legal team, said Hernandez has a teenage son in the specialised unit.
Newsday called Hernandez on Wednesday and he said the statement needed to be supported, adding that John Heath was his attorney, before ending the call.
Newsday also contacted Police Commissioner Gary Griffith. The CoP said he does not divulge details pertaining to police officers, especially if they are assigned to any specialist units.