New video raises more doubt over Police account of Barr Street incident involving Opposition Leader

A new video recording of the Barr Street shooting incident involving the Head of the Special Branch, Prem Narine and Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed has raised more questions and doubt on the Police and Narine’s account of the incident.

In the new video recording, which was captured on a private home security system, the Special Branch Head could be seen standing in a yard for several minutes as a Police Force pick up remained parked opposite him.

Eventually, as a black Toyota motor car belonging to the Opposition Leader drove by, Narine could be seen raising his hands with a gun and firing several shots at the car, which never stopped. Wearing a short pants with slippers and a t-shirt with a cap on his head, Narine could be seen walking out of the yard as the Police vehicle pulled out from its parking position and he hopped in to follow the car.

In his report to Police investigators, which was released by the Police hours after the 12th October incident, Mr. Narine claimed that he was at home when he heard what appeared to be a gunshot and took cover. He claimed that he then returned fire in the direction of the moving car before intercepting it a few corners away.

The new video recording does not capture any gunfire from the moving car and also does not capture Narine ever taking cover. The recording shows him standing at the ready in the same position for several minutes before the car drives by and he opens fire on it.

Narine’s version of the events was used to institute charges against the Opposition Leader and two of his workers, with claims of a weapon and ammunition also being found in the car after it was intercepted and driven to the Police station by someone believed to be a Police Officer.

Two weeks ago after being charged, the Opposition Leader released another video recording of the incident when his car was intercepted by a Police vehicle and Narine emerged from that vehicle firing shots at the car before forcing the occupants out. The occupants, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his two workers were forced to lie on the road and arrested and taken to the Kitty Police station, while their car was driven to the station by someone believed to be a Police Officer who was in the company of Narine.

The release of that video, which was captured by the Government’s Safe Security cameras, has landed the Opposition Leader behind bars on remand while two other Police Officers who have been accused of leaking the recording from the Police Command Centre, were also charged and remanded to prison.

The new video recording which was released overnight on social media by journalist Travis Chase, could form a major part of the criminal proceedings in the Court. The Opposition Leader has maintained that he was not armed and no one from the car he was in fired any shot since there was no weapon in the car.

He said there was a clear attempt to assassinate him. Last week, the Special Branch Head denied that he made any attempt to assassinate the Opposition Leader. He told reporters that he was in fact fearful for his life.

Narine is the key Prosecution witness in the ongoing extradition case against the Opposition Leader and his father.

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