3 to stand trial for Sgt Manwaring's killing

THREE men were committed yesterday to stand trial in the High Court for the February 19, 2013 killing of Sgt Hayden Manwaring.

They are, Kerron Nicholas Garcia, 25, of Aldana Street, Princes Town; Anthony Clement, 43, of East Dry River, Port of Spain; Kelvin Wallace, 29, of Flamingo Crescent, Pleasantville, San Fernando. The fourth accused, Kofi Cropper, 40, of Manahambre, Ste Madeleine, died in prison.

Manwaring, 42, who was attached to the San Fernando CID, was shot in the abdomen at Butler Street, San Fernando, while responding to a robbery at a fast-food outlet. His colleague PC Nicholas Philip was shot in the arm.

The preliminary inquiry, which began on September 26, 2018, took place before senior magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the San Fernando magistrates’ court.

The prosecution’s case, led by state attorney Brandon Sookoo, saw 57 witness statements tendered and evidence from 12 witnesses.

The accused men did not provide an alibi, give evidence or call witnesses. Attorneys Shuan Teekasingh, Fareed Ali and Godson Phillip represented them. Insp Seemungal Rampersad of the Homicide Bureau laid the charge.

Antoine said that she found a prima-facie case was made out to commit them for trial.