Wendy-Ann Huggins, mother of Barataria resident Joel Apparicio who was shot and killed by a Special Reserve Policeman on May 21, says she fears the police may be “getting away with murder.” Huggins, who held a solitary and silent protest outside of both the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain and the Parliament on Wrightson Road, was close to tears as she recalled the day her son was killed.
She expressed further frustration as she spoke about the lack of information being provided to her family by the police. She said she found out her son was killed by a police officer when she was watching the news and claimed that police had not contacted her. “At least he (the police officer) own up to the shooting but since the 22nd everybody telling me investigations ongoing and, investigations continuing. Nobody is telling me he is going to be charged,” Huggins said.
“I went to Police Complaints Authority and they said they waiting on a report from the police. I understand the frustration that Gillian Lucky used to express. All this time passed and nothing. “I want justice. What was done was street justice. I want justice. That was murder.” Huggins held up placards as she walked back and forth in front of Parliament. One read: “Mr DPP my son was murdered by police.”
The other read: “Justice for Joel Apparicio and sons murdered by police.” “I am not denying that some police do good work. I am not denying that but investigations...after three months I still don’t know who is the person that shot my son.” Huggins complained that justice in T&T was too slow and police were trying to protect their own.
“On that day, people showed me the man who shoot my son and took the number of the vehicle. By the time they cordoned off, the policeman shrugged me away and one set of police men around him protecting him and up to now he knows me but I don’t know him, and that is what Trinidad is about.” Huggins said she still felt immense pain over her son’s killing.
“I does feel it in my belly. Only a mother could tell you that. Sometimes I fall down and hold my belly, I does feel it here,” she said as she clutched her stomach. While Huggins stood outside Parliament with placard, she said several parliamentarians had passed by and had ignored her. “They don’t have time for this. I got advice to take it international and that is what I intend to do. It is time to stop this in T&T.”
