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moving tactically. I fired at them. I fired a little over 60
rounds in the direction of these men.”
4.34.
He said that the gunmen escaped and so did the doctor. However,
the gunmen drove the abandoned police car into Hannah Town where it was
shot up by other gunmen who erroneously believed that police officers were in
the car. Sgt. Clarke and his team retreated after hearing that the car was on
fire.
4.35.
One of Sgt. Clarke’s patrols took him to Mountain View Avenue that
night and he saw police officers on the ground. He described the scene. “Big
men broke down and cried”. And he said quite frankly, “Police personnel were
afraid to go anywhere”.
FINDINGS
4.36.
What transpired in West Kingston and related areas on
23 May was a flagrant display of an absolute disregard for law and
order. This was manifested by an unprecedented series of strategic,
coordinated violent attacks against officers of the JCF and State-owned
properties, especially police stations. We are satisfied that Coke and
his close associates or confidants carefully and systematically
organised and orchestrated the attacks against the JCF.
4.37.
The barricading of the Tivoli Gardens community and the
blocking of the several roads in neighbouring areas evinced an
intention and a determination to prevent the security forces from
entering Tivoli Gardens to execute the warrant.
4.38.
ACP Leon Rose’s evidence of the explosion of violence in
West Kingston on 23 May is credible. It is corroborated by other
evidence both oral and documentary. It discloses armed violence and
lawlessness of a high order and was an overt display of defiance on the