Trial for Laddie Gillett’s killer continued in Supreme Court

The trial of Corporal Kareem Martinez continued today in Supreme Court in Dangriga. He’s the policeman, who is accused of fatally shooting 14-year-old Laddie Gillett on the night of July 14, 2021 in Placencia. It’s a critical case because of the victim and the perpetrator in this case. Senior Counsel, Richard “Dickie” Bradley today spoke to Love News about what transpired in court, including a statement by the accused. 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney at Law: “The accused person chose to give a statement from the dock and he explained basically what transpired on that fateful night. He said that they had received a report at the Placencia Police Station that there were persons lurking around and moving around at the Placencia Beach Club and that they may be armed and the call went to the police station and the superior officer directed him to take some officers to go and check it out which he did and in the course of that he says that two persons rushed at the police and there was a struggle with one and that he was on the beach about ninety feet away and he saw the struggle was going on with officer Pop and one of the persons and that he discharged his firearm as a warning shot. The defence attorney Selgado questioned at length the diarist and also questioned police officer Augustine in relation to firearm. Augustine admitted that he had his personal firearm with him that night. He admitted and then did not admit and then again admitted and then again did not admit that he signed out a police issued fire arm, there’s a serial number for that which is different from the gun that martinez had and then he was back tracking and even I writing notes and then he said that it was not his signature in the police diary signing out the weapon and neither was it his signature signing returning the weapon but he’s also saying that he had a personal firearm wich was given to him as a gift which was licensed and I think he was challenged that he had discharged his gun and he said no.”

The matter has been adjourned for March 14.