Autopsy done on Sea Lots man killed by cops after initial delay

The autopsy of a Sea Lots man who shot and killed by police as they investigated the wounding of an officer who was himself shot on St Paul Street, Port of Spain, was done on August 2 at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. The man's relatives, however, were not yet in receipt of the results when Newsday spoke to them later that day.

Jonathan Wharwood, 39, a mason, was killed in Sea Lots around 1.30 am on July 23 by police investigating an incident in which an officer was shot while on patrol on the night of July 22.

Police, in a statement hours after Wharwood’s death, said he attacked officers carrying out a search at his home, but neighbours said that was not true.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Newsday on July 31, Wharwood’s family said his first autopsy had to be stopped after the pathologist was unsatisfied with the answers he received from the police about Wharwood’s death.

A female relative said the police officer who witnessed the autopsy told them he was unable to answer the pathologist’s questions.

“We went to identify body and they sent a sergeant. They started the process and the pathologist was asking questions and (the officer) couldn’t answer. He told us afterwards that because he couldn’t answer the questions, the pathologist stopped the autopsy and requested the presence of a senior officer who could answer his questions.”

The family said they had spent the last week liaising with the funeral home and the police but still had not made any progress.

“We keep calling the police everyday. Every time we call the Besson Street Police Station to find out what is happening, they keep saying no senior officer is there to go (to the autopsy).”

The family said the entire ordeal had been trying and they wanted justice as they still believed Wharwood was wrongfully killed.

They said the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) visited the scene of his killing the day afterwards and had already begun its investigation.

Wharwood’s family filed a complaint with the PCA after neighbours said the police’s account of his death was inaccurate.

Neighbours said shortly after police stormed the compound and questioned several people, including Wharwood, officers escorted him back to his room. Minutes later, they heard four gunshots.

On July 23, a neighbour who identified himself only by his alias Blinchman told Newsday he was in the yard when Wharwood was shot.

“They were asking him, (about the St Paul Street shooting) but he don’t know because he would have been asleep at the time. He cooked for everybody on the block and went to take a rest.

“While they asking him... That wasn’t enough and they bring him out the room, carry him back in and then...

“The policeman turned and said, ‘Man down, man down, man down.’ After he said that, the rest of police run inside and said, ‘Oh God, boy, is the wrong man boy. Oh s---, bring the jeep.’”