Saturday March 20th, 2010
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Murder accused killed outside courthouse
Published: 20 Oct 2009
Unarmed police ran for cover yesterday as a killer, disguised as a construction worker, gunned downed murder accused Peter Garcia on the compound of the Rio Claro Magistrates’ Court. The shooting created panic in the rural town, causing the closure of the nearby Republic Bank and the court. Last night, officers were searching for two suspects, one of whom was seen liming outside the court, shortly before Garcia’s killing. Police said Garcia appeared at the Rio Claro court around 10 am. He was remanded into custody and ordered to reappear on October 29. Around 10.30 am, as he left court with police officers, the gunman struck, shooting Garcia at point-blank range, with an automatic firearm, police said. A witness said the lawmen, who were supposed to protect Garcia, fled upon hearing the first shots.
This gave the second gunman ample opportunity to walk up to a bleeding Garcia and fire three more shots to his head and chest. The assailants then jumped over a fence at the side of the court and fled into a waiting gold Nissan Almera. The shooting triggered panic in the courthouse. One witness, who requested anonymity, said a presiding magistrate fled into her private chambers. Ten cases were scheduled to be heard in court. “The courtroom had about 30 people and when the gunshots were heard, people started to run,” the witness said. He said he and several others began lying face down on the floor. “We didn’t know if the gunman was coming inside. We stayed on the ground for a few minutes and then someone walked in and said a man just shoot and kill Peter Garcia,” he added. Meanwhile, at the nearby Republic Bank, security personnel hurriedly closed the doors.
A bank official said several people pounded on the glass doors upon seeing the killers fleeing. By the time Rio Claro Police realised what had happened, the gunmen were gone. Dozens of police cordoned off the area and set up roadblocks along the Naparima/Mayaro Road. Teams also were dispatched into the nearby forests while a police helicopter made sweeps overhead. However, no one was arrested. The killing brought outrage from Rio Claro villagers who chastised the police for allowing Garcia to be killed. “This man came to the police for protection and so he dead!” one man shouted. Calypsonian Mighty Mato started singing: “How many more must die.” Garcia’s 70-year-old father, Harvey Huggins, said he was disappointed that Garcia was killed in police custody. He said senior lawmen were discourteous to him and never allowed him to see his son. Wiping away tears, Huggins said: “They accuse my son of killing his brothers and burning his mother’s house, but this was not so. Why would he do this?”
More on Garcia:
Garcia was accused of killing two of his older brothers (Jason, 37, and Gerard, 41), Curtis Roy, 37, Simboonath Kumar, 51, Wayne Patrick Gonzales, 45. Garcia was a suspect in the arson attack on his mother Elaine's home on April 20 and was charged with wounding Sherwin Wilson with intent to murder. He surrendered to police May 12, 2009.
Where were the Rio Claro
Where were the Rio Claro police officers? Doing nothing as usual? This must be the most bold attack ever in this country.
The police station is next to the court house, and there are police officers around the man. The police need protectors. We're doomed!
Can we clear up a relatively minor point in this story? The Express says the men got away in a SILVER almera and the Guardian says it's GOLD. Wonder what the Newsday will say?
A failed state has failed to
A failed state has failed to protect a person in its custody. Who is going to be held accountable? We know for sure that the shooters will not be caught becaust the blind police and citizens did not see anything. One has to wonder is really running things and in charge of our dysfunctional society?
Blame James Philbert for the
Blame James Philbert for the murder of the accused. The Government and the Minister of National Security prefers to keep him as an actor. He has been acting CoP so therefore what we can we expect from the acting CoP. He has half of our interst at hand and he has not yet been convinced that the criminality here is a serious matter. We need a SWAT. Special Weapons and Tactics entity to deal with heavy crimes. Armed with assault rifles, AK 47s and Uzis. One can only fight fire with fire and given the current situation in T&T, we need special forces not police officers with baton. Special training, special tactics and presecurity measures in place before transporting prisnors. In the US Army this event will be called PPP which refers to Piss Poor Planning. If the chain of command is weak then the entire components that make up the force is equaly weak. Randolph Burrows was a radical but he always got the job done and believe me, he had extreme tactical training that he had inherited to get the job done. One should not send boys to do man's job. It is bad and unfornutate the accused didn't get his day in court to defend himself.But it is worst to learn that criminals are in command and more powerful than the impotent police officers. Shame on James Philbert the incompetent acting CoP.
"A witness said the lawmen,
"A witness said the lawmen, who were supposed to protect Garcia, fled upon hearing the first shots". Note there were witnesses present to verify this response by police, which in all honesty I think would be the normal behaviour of T&T police officers in situations such as these.
However in the instances where bandits end up dead in shoot outs with police - the police officers involved normally claim that the bandits fired on them first and then they return fire...note - these type of situations happen when their are no witnesses to collaborate the story. This leads me to question what really happened in these instances.
Such a young man stalked by
Such a young man stalked by death no doubt as a result of the poor choices he made. What is going on with law enforcement in this country? I don't care if Peter Garcia was this country's worst criminal, the State had a duty to protect him and give him a fair trial. Once again, you live by the gun, you die by the gun.
Stewpeas I agree with you
Stewpeas I agree with you and that is a good question.
Escort police are not
Escort police are not allowed to carry guns because prisoners may attempt to overpower during court and use the gun against those in the courtroom, running was the only logical thing an unarmed, un-vested officers could do to protect themselves. What would you do stand and get shot also????? The sad thing is that no officer from within the station came out to assist. There are some positives to come out of this, a review of escort protocols,a need for real security at the courts not those MTS jokers the need for bulletproof vests for officers and ONE LESS CRIMINAL TO SIT IN PRISON AND GET FAT OFF MY TAX DOLLARS
"The sad thing is that no
"The sad thing is that no officer from within the station came out to assist"
That's because they fraid real confrontation with criminals. But are good at shooting at fleeing cars or criminals running away.
Clearly we have reached
Clearly we have reached where we are going and are on our way back, may God help us.....
Live by the sword . . . The
Live by the sword . . .
The murderers of this murderer did their homework and planned their getaway with great detail.
I wish that our national security forces could wake up sometime soon and start functioning.
I'm happy that no innocent bystander became collateral damage.
http://www.dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Salts it eh have no homework
Salts it eh have no homework to do dey, the gunmen know that the police fraid dem so is just walkup and shoot and the police go run with everybody else....yuh think dey had ah practice before hand.
I didn't say it was hard
I didn't say it was hard homework. But they must have came out before and observed how prisoners are handed.
And this was probably their practice session for future hits and also to earn some stripes.
The police, like the ministry of health, only reacts. They don't have the foresight to know that anything goes here in T&T as it regards crime.
Sad eh?
Did anyone read the story?
Did anyone read the story? The reporter said the officers were unarmed, tell me if any of you critics would engage someone with a gun when all you have is your hand?
Even if the police had guns
Even if the police had guns the avengers would have have shoot them and take their guns away.
Those who live by the sword
Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Its funny how every time a killer is himself killed, there is always some kind of defense for him by friends and relatives. The other victims also have family who mourn their loss. We are also too quick to blame the Police for doing their duties whenever some killer is killed.
The only problem That I see here is that the policemen should of been armed, in these days of wrath which our Nation is going through, I think that all police men should be armed at all times, being armed is part of their job,and is a tool they need to help them protect and serve
Unarmed escorts? I dont
Unarmed escorts? I dont understand why. If an inmate is in a holding cell I could understand the idea of not allowing anyone with weapons to enter (most countries have such a policy) but once a prisoner is being transferred or move it makes sense to have the escort carry arms. Doesn't it? Don S. NY
"but once a prisoner is
"but once a prisoner is being transferred or move it makes sense to have the escort carry arms. Doesn't it?"
And what of the desperate prisoner who sees the opportunity to make a mad dash after grabbing an officer's gun, Don S. from New York? Those rules in place because it has happened before, all over the world. A gun in an officer's holster is far more incentive than a no gun escort. Think about it.
Yes, but...have you ever
Yes, but...have you ever observed prisoners being transferred or moved in any other country? yes, the risk is there that the prisoner may attempt to steal a weapon but this is why they are shackled and handcuffed behind their backs. Can you imagine the public outcry if unarmed guards were to escort prisoners in the US? Trust me, you would be seeing many such public executions as well as many more attempts of escape. I am always reluctant to make any comparisons between Trinidad and the US, but here (in the US)the escorts carry submachine guns and other automatic weapons and for high risk prisoners, they are giving bullet proof vests. In fact, each morning the prisoners that are to be in court that day are brought in and held in holding cells located in the court buildings where they are guarded by armed court officers. Don S. NY
Dont you think it is
Dont you think it is interesting that these Nissan Gold Almeras are popping up in crimes? remember the lady that got shot in west end police station? the killers used a Nissan Gold Almera.
One less criminal for the
One less criminal for the courts to deal with. However something smells fishy here. Was this a setup? In any case if you live by the gun so shall you die!
Preventative vs Curative I
Preventative vs Curative
I am of the opinion that intelligience gathering, trend analysis, surveillance and implementation of corrective actions are some of the weak points in the police service. I would think that in addition to arming the officers we look at safe building designs to enter and exit safely with the minimum amount of exposure to the officers and their charges with controlled access and CCTV systems so we can identify future perpertrators. What is the cost of a life?
Mr.Garcia rest in peace.
Mr.Garcia rest in peace. when your time come to go you have to go.and if you live by the guns you must go by the guns.
que sera sera. I pray that God call back all those who are living a life of war, i ask God to retun to his glory.
peace to his soul
It's a simple case of PNM
It's a simple case of PNM killers unafraid of PNM police! Nothing will change in my homeland of T&T, until the main PNM criminal meets his death......political or natural causes.
Something smells fishy to me
Something smells fishy to me about this whole thing, it seems that someone or someones did not want this young man to have his day in court for fear of being implicated in this matter.Being gunned down in broad daylight and right next to a police station just doesn't sit well with me, homeboy was SETUP big time by THE CORRUPT POLICEMEN that he thought was going to protect him.I read on the EXPRESS when he had turned himself in, that he had some information and he was involved in something or other with the police.Those same police ordered his execution because they wanted to remain UNKNOWN.As King Austin said " who are to guard the guards "there is no one that is going to be held accountable for this.To his family my condolences and may he rest in peace.God not sleeping he is still alive even in the midst of all this evil.