Too much ah damn sheep all over the place just willing to bend over and take it......well done Mr. Lewis!!!
PCA investigates Ashby killing
Friends, family, coworkers provide statements
By Richard Charan If there is a single incident and an exact location that defines the distrust between the people and police, it is the killing of George Ashby the night of January 23, 2009, on the road near his home in Tabaquite. Ashby was pulled dead from his white B-11 Sunny by police officers who shot him multiple times during what they claim was an attempt by him and an accomplice to run them over during his getaway from a robbery scene.
But for the people of Tabaquite—many of whom crowded around the killing scene that night in disbelief—and the staff of the Tabaquite Composite School where Ashby worked, the police version of events was incredulous to the point of ridiculous.
The people who knew Ashby, say that the 52-year-old handyman, with no criminal record spanning much of his adult life, could never suddenly "turn bandit".
That after spending a leisurely afternoon helping to prepare and eat a meal of yam, eddoes, and stewed pork at the secondary school that he cleaned and maintained, Ashby would not leave the lime, pull a gun at a supermarket in Rio Claro, beat and rob the manager, then turn for home.
The people of Tabaquite widely believe that Ashby was shot and killed by over zealous police officers who thought the "weed wacker" that Ashby had protruding from the front passenger window, was a shotgun.
The weed wacker belonged to the Tabaquite Composite School and Ashby was taking it home to have it fixed. People also insist that a shotgun the police claim to have found in his car, did not belong to him.
Which is why, almost three years later, and with the official police investigation still allegedly being pursued, the people of Tabaquite have done something unusual in a country where many citizens are equally afraid of the people and the police.
Last week, a package was delivered to the Police Complaints Authority containing witness statements and evidence related to the Ashby case.
The statements give an account of the last day of Ashby's life.
From what he did that morning to when he was shot dead near the primary school he once attended.
The evidence was gathered over several months by Ashby's childhood friend Elias Lewis. Lewis, 60, had little trouble getting people to say what they saw. That's because with the passing of time, the collective disgust of the village about what happened that night has not diminished. They wrote and signed the statements during a time when in many other cases, people would have been justifiably afraid of retribution and retaliation.
The statements are from the secondary school's former principal, several teachers, Ashby's neighbours, witnesses to the shooting, and people who saw Ashby as he drove home.
The evidence also includes the police account of what at least ten polcie ofifcers—inspector, corporal, constables and Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers—did the night they shot Ashby at least three times.
One of the statements is from a person who was detained at the Rio Claro police station and allegedly overheard a police officer say something incriminating.
At last Friday's police press briefing, the people speaking for the Police Service could not immediately say what was the status of the investigation.
However, Chairman of the PCA Gillian Lucky has acknowledged receiving the package, and said there will be an investigation. (See sidebar). Lewis has never forgotten his friend, he said, because he refused to allow the man's character to be destroyed by an allegedly fabricated story given by the police.
"It is frightening that an innocent man has lost his life, and its like business as usual. I can't just leave this alone. It is more than 35 years I have been friends with this man".
Lewis said "the police killed this man, then tried to make him out to be a criminal, but man suddenly turning into a criminal at age 52?" So Lewis has dedicated much of the last two years to doing what the police was incapable or unwilling to do.
He said "this is not only about George Ashby. Its about all the people who police killed innocently". As a symbol on how much the community still valued the man, several trophies are given to top performing pupils of the primary and secondary school in the area each year in his memory.
Ashby was a married father of four, and a grandfather. Last Saturday would have been his 55th birthday. A thanksgiving was held in his memory.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PCA_investigates_Ashby_killing-134218708.htmlMods we should probably start a police shooting thread.......
