Covid19 halts probe into deaths of Bharatt murder suspects
Mc Donald Jacob. Photo by Sureash Cholai
THE investigation into the deaths of two murder suspects in police custody has been paused as investigators have either tested positive or are primary contacts for covid19.
Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday, DCP Mc Donald Jacob said 30 per cent of the investigating team is in quarantine. He said the investigation has reached the stage where the investigators are awaiting guidance from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the next step.
So far a total of 27 people have been interviewed, including members of the Defence Force, the Special Operations Response Team and the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) in relation to the deaths of Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon.
Sorting out SORT
7 Hrs Ago
File photo: Members of the Special Operations Response Team at the scence where three people were shot dead by officers assigned to the unit in Santa Cruz in April 2020. -
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith announced the appointment of Supt Roger Alexander as the new head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) on Wednesday.
Supt Alexander is a popular police presence on television. At SORT he replaces Insp Mark Hernandez, who is facing charges of misbehaviour in public office following allegations of encouraging the beating of a suspect in custody for questioning about the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt.
Former SORT head: My son is not a member
Insp Mark Hernandez
FORMER head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Insp Mark Hernandez has denied an attorney s claims that his 19-year-old son is a member of the unit.
On Sunday, attorney Gerald Ramdeen, who was until recently part of Hernandez’s legal team, said Hernandez has a teenage son in the specialised unit.
Newsday called Hernandez on Wednesday and he said the statement needed to be supported, adding that John Heath was his attorney, before ending the call.
Newsday also contacted Police Commissioner Gary Griffith. The CoP said he does not divulge details pertaining to police officers, especially if they are assigned to any specialist units.
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Top cop promises ‘bigger, better’ SORT with Supt Roger Alexander
Thursday 29 April 2021
CHOSEN ONE: Police Commissioner Gary Griffith speaks during the police service s weekly media briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Wednesday. With him is newly-appointed head of the Special Operations Respone Team Supt Roger Alexander. - AYANNA KINSALE
Superintendent Roger Alexander is the new head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT). His appointment was announced on Wednesday by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith during the weekly police media briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain.
Griffith, when asked about the thought process behind selecting Alexander, said he chose the best fit for the unit.