By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will not be distracted by attempts to have the suspect they say shot and killed PC Clarence Gilkes surrender himself.
This was stated by Acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob who said the suspect who was willing turn himself can do so at the nearest police station.
On Friday, Gilkes,44 was shot dead while on duty during a police exercise on Rich Plain Road, Diego Martin while with a team of officers from the Western Division Task Force. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police said he was killed by a known suspect.
However, the suspect and residents say Gilkes was killed accidentally by another police officer.
During a Ministry of National Security press conference on Sunday, Jacob said the police had received information from the man’s attorney about his intention to surrender peacefully.
The Acting CoP said the police was willing to have the suspect surrender under the witness of a third party as he feared for his life.
He said he mentioned that the person with their attorney can call stations’ homicide department.
“Then I noticed that it raised its head again, whether or not the police is willing. Sometimes we have selective listening taking place because I indicated that,” Jacon said.
He also said if the man was unwilling to go into a police station, there were several numbers which he could call and would be assisted by.
“This has been done on several occasions within the recent past in Trinidad and Tobago and most of the lawyers who are criminal lawyers also have the numbers for all the various regions of the homicide department and they utilise it on a regular basis,” Jacob said.
He did say, however, that police were wary of offers to surrender being made by suspects or their attorneys as similar arrangements had fallen through in the recent past.
Jacob said, “We have to be very careful. Even though they are making the request to turn in himself, our operations will continue with our leads and our search to arrest the persons who are responsible. We will not let those sorts of noise interfere with us.”
He also asked the public to be mindful of their social media content.
“Persons believe that by throwing up various aspects of investigation and their defences within social media can assist them when the time comes when whether they can be charged. We have to also be very careful with that and it is a bad precedence that is being set.
“Social media is not an extension of the justice system. In some instances when you throw up what you suggest is the person’s defence you might even make matters worse for them. It is something that we should desist from doing. But to get the sympathy of the population will not interfere with the police and their investigation.”
