Two witnesses come forward in police killing of Moruga man

TWO witnesses have come forward to help in the investigation of the killing of 54-year-old Venrick Hudlin of Moruga.

He was shot dead by an off-duty policeman last Saturday night.

Police sources told Newsday that one of the two women told investigators that earlier that day she had spoken to Hudlin and he was afraid.

She said Hudlin told her the policeman had threatened to kill him.

Newsday learned Hudlin and the policeman had an altercation that day after Hudlin spoke to the policeman about dumping rubbish on a property in the village where he was a watchman.

Residents confirmed they also heard Hudlin and the policeman arguing about the dumping of rubbish on the property.

The second witness, police sources said, saw the events which led up to Hudlin's death. She said at the time of the shooting, the policeman was with another man, and Hudlin had a cutlass in his hands but did not attack them.

Relatives said Hudlin did odd jobs around the neighbourhood and was on his way to clean and cut a villager's yard.

The family got video footage which is now in the hands of investigators and showed the moments leading up to Hudlin’s death.

The footage appears to show Hudlin, with a cutlass in hand, walk over a drain on Habanero Drive.

A blue SUV pulls up alongside and Hudlin speaks briefly with someone in it. He appears to raise his hand holding the cutlass and is shot by someone in the car. He falls into a drain. Two men get out of the car and lift Hudlin into it.

There have been protests over Hudlin's killing in the week since he died.

Hudlin will be laid to rest on Saturday after a funeral at the family home at Gomez Trace, St Mary’s Village, Moruga..

The Police Complaints Authority s investigating.