Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe has questioned the response of police personnel following the second pass of a vehicle carrying Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed outside the home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, Head of the GPF’s Special Branch, saying 22 seconds elapsed before a man entered a parked pickup.
Slowe, who shared surveillance footage showing portions of the October 12 incident on Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown, said the delay raised questions about the actions of the officers who were reportedly stationed near Narine’s residence.
In reviewing the footage, Slowe pointed to a black car, said to be the vehicle in which Mohamed was travelling, passing the area before returning a second time. He also highlighted a pickup parked nearby, which he said did not appear to have police markings or a crest, although it was being identified as a police vehicle.
Slowe said the footage appeared to show the black car passing the parked pickup during the second round through the area. This was the pass during which Mohamed has alleged that shots were fired at the vehicle. “If you’re there on duty there, you’re to protect the Head of Special Branch, and a vehicle passed, and a shot is fired,” Slowe said, questioning why the police vehicle did not appear to respond immediately.
He said he had carefully checked the footage and calculated that 22 seconds elapsed between the black car passing the pickup and a man entering the vehicle, apparently to pursue the car.
Slowe also drew attention to the pickup’s red lights, suggesting that they could indicate that its engine was running or that its parking lights had been left on.
The incident occurred at about 11:45 p.m. on October 12, when Mohamed and two associates were travelling in a black Toyota Allion along Barr Street, near Narine’s residence.
According to the police report, Narine was at home when he observed the vehicle travelling slowly along the street. After it passed and subsequently returned, he reportedly heard what appeared to be a gunshot, took cover and fired several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle.
The car later left the area and was intercepted at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Kitty. Mohamed, his driver Eugene Thorne and videographer Mario Mohamed were arrested.
Police subsequently reported finding a .32 Taurus pistol without a serial number and three rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Investigators also recovered one .32 spent shell near Narine’s residence and four 9mm spent shells. The items were lodged for ballistic examination, while surveillance footage was expected to assist the investigation.
Mohamed has denied firing at Narine and alleged that the officer shot at his vehicle. He has also disputed the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the firearm.
The incident has since resulted in criminal charges against Mohamed and his two associates. On October 16, the three men pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and attempting to obstruct the course of justice. They were each granted bail totalling $750,000, subject to conditions that include avoiding Narine and his immediate family and staying away from the specified section of Barr Street. The case was adjourned to November 6.
During the bail proceedings, the magistrate noted that the prosecution had not presented CCTV footage establishing that the suspected gunshot originated from the vehicle occupied by the accused.
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