• Soldiers withhold spent shells from police

To date the Jamaica Defence Force has not turned over spent shells and what sources described as “other vital exhibits” to investigators probing the killing of accountant Keith Clarke.

Chief investigator Assistant Commissioner Granville Gause, head of the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), says over 70 firearms allegedly used by soldiers in the shooting incident were handed over to the BSI. Evidence inside and outside of the death house at 18 Kirkland Close, Upper Kirkland Heights, suggests that extraordinary firepower was used in which possibly hundreds of rounds of ammunition were fired.

However, no spent shells were turned over although witnesses gave statements that soldiers were seen picking up spent shells.

There have been reports indicating that not all exhibits taken from the death scene by soldiers were turned over to the police. Clarke was shot inside his bedroom in the presence of his widow and daughter by soldiers said to be in search of then fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. At the time of the shooting the military said four members of the party were shot. ACP Gause said on Thursday, a bullet removed from the body of a soldier was handed over to his team.

Lieutenant Colonel Rocky Meade of the JDF acknowledged that the military was cooperating fully with the investigations, but declined answers to several questions sent by the Sunday Herald to the military.

Based on reports the Sunday Herald asked the military the following questions:

• (i) How many soldiers were involved in the operation and who was in charge?
• (ii) Was the operation directed by the police or the military and was the intelligence which form the basis for this operation generated by the police or MIU?
• (iii) To date the military has not provided the public with an explanation for the shooting. For example: Did they go to the deceased house in search of then fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, his cohorts and any other persons?
• (iv) To date how many statements have been given to the police?
• (v) What is the nature of injuries inflicted on members of the detail? How and by whom were the injuries inflicted? How are they now and have they returned to active duty?
• (vi) Was a helicopter deployed in the operation, and was deadly fire directed at the house from the helicopter?
• (vii) It has been reported that high-powered gunfire was directed at the walls, furnishings and furniture in every room of the house, what was the object of that gunfire?