Keon Gloster, the State’s main witness in the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman murder trial, was allegedly beaten by police before he agreed to assist in their investigation.
The alleged beating was one of several discrepancies in Gloster’s interaction with police that led to the 12 accused men being charged with the crime.
This issue was raised by defence attorneys as they questioned homicide detective Supt Ancil Corbette yesterday.
Corbette, one of the most senior police officers involved in the investigation, has testified to interviewing four of the accused men when they first came under the police radar weeks after the former Xtra Foods CEO’s disappearance and shortly before they were rearrested and charged with the crime in May 2007.
Corbette also claimed to be present when Gloster pointed out his neighbours, who he said were involved in Naipaul-Coolman’s murder and disposing of her body.
Gloster is yet to testify before Justice Malcolm Holdip and the 12-member jury in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court.
While cross-examining Corbette yesterday, Mario Merritt, who is representing three of the accused men, asked if he knew Gloster had filed a lawsuit against the police shortly after he agreed to give them several statements in exchange for being released.
“I know of the court matter but not the specific details,” Corbette said.
Corbette also admitted to being aware that Gloster suffered from epilepsy and was hospitalised during his four-day stay in police custody.
Saying Gloster’s medication caused hallucinations and would have left him “easily suggestible,” Merritt asked Corbette if it was proper police procedure to interview medicated suspects or witnesses.
“I may not want to, but if the responses would save lives or help solve the case, I would do it,” Corbette said.
He refused to comment on whether the information provided by Gloster was verified and proved to be accurate, instead suggesting the question should be directed to the lead investigator, retired assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Nadir Khan.
When asked if he had been told Gloster had been staying at the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital, Corbette said no.
Merritt also accused Corbette of using a false statement from another one of the accused to try to deceive his client, Shervon Peters, into confessing to his alleged involvement in the crime.
“I would not and did not do that,” a clearly agitated Corbette said in a loud tone.
Corbette’s cross-examination continues today.
What the trial is about
Naipaul-Coolman was abducted in front of her home at Radix Road, Lange Park, Chaguanas, on December 19, 2006. Her family paid a $122,000 ransom but she was not released and her body has never been recovered.
Since the trial began in late March, prosecutors have claimed that the businesswoman was held captive a house in a hillside area at Upper La Puerta Avenue, Diego Martin, near where almost all of the accused men lived.
