Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro says investigators have gathered evidence into the January 20th police-involved shooting that left Joshua Samaroo dead and Kaia Sealy paralysed, but insists it cannot be disclosed publicly without jeopardising the case.
Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Police Service’s Diplomatic Security Unit on Friday, Commissioner Allister Guevarro said officers have been advised against releasing evidence from the investigation into the public domain.
He stressed that the matter must be addressed through the judicial system.
“As I told Trinidad and Tobago when this incident occurred, I wanted to come out and show everybody the evidence that the police were gathering. But I was stopped because we need to express these things in a court of law and by us doing that, it would prejudice the outcome of the investigation and the matter in the court. So I held my tongue.”
The Commissioner warned that misinformation circulating in the public space is fuelling confusion, as emotions remain high over the incident.
He urged citizens to allow investigators and the courts to carry out their work independently.
“Other persons have decided to expose what they have uncovered as what they believe to be the truth and they are causing confusion, and drama and bacchanal behaviour in the public. I want to urge the public to remain calm, everyone will get their day in court, and it will be expressed before a magistrate, before a judge, before a jury.”
Commissioner Guevarro also defended the actions of police officers during recent protests linked to the matter, saying officers took steps to inform demonstrators of the legal requirements before they acted.
He maintained that while citizens have a right to freedom of expression, protests must remain within the bounds of the law.
“We are not trying to circumvent persons’ rights to expression or freedom of expression. What we are doing is that we are trying to tell persons that there is a right and proper way to do things. There is something called the rule of law. My officers took pains to explain to these protesters before embarking on their protest as to what was expected of them. And they decided to throw caution to the wind. The police had to act. We are not living in a lawless society.”
The Police Commissioner is calling on the public to remain calm and allow the matter to be ventilated before the courts, where he says all evidence will eventually be revealed.