Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterTHE BRAETON murder trial continued yesterday with consultant government forensic patho-logist Dr. Ere Seshaiah testifying that six of the seven young men who were shot and killed in a house in Braeton, St. Catherine on March 14, 2001 died of gunshot wounds to the head.
He said the six men died immediately after they were shot in the head, adding that they had gunshot injuries to other parts of their bodies. Dr. Seshaiah who performed the post-mortem on the seven bodies will continue his evidence on Monday at the trial which enters its second week in the Home Circuit Court.
ACTING IN SELF-DEFENCE
The Crown, represented by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn; Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, David Fraser, and Tara Reid, Crown counsel, are alleging that the policemen who are on trial for the murder, were not acting in lawful self-defence when they shot them.
Two policemen called to give evidence for the Crown said this week that it was men from inside the house who fired first at the police party. The doctor said that in his opinion, the muzzle of the gun would have been at least two feet away from the men as there were no gunpowder markings on the bodies.
He said Curtis Smith had several gunshot injuries to the left side of the head, Lancebert Clarke had gunshot injuries to the back of the head as well as to the abdomen, and Andre Virgo had gunshot injuries to the left side of the head.
Dane White had seven gunshot injuries, four of which were to the head.
Tamoya Wilson had five gunshot wounds, two of which were to the back of the head. Christopher Grant had six gunshot wounds, one of which was to the front of the head, shattering the brain.
When the trial resumes on Monday, Dr. Seshaiah who performed the post-mortem on March 29, 2001, will give his findings in respect of Regan Beckford.
Mr. Justice Donald McIntosh is presiding at the trial.
