DPP gripes over social media circulation of video evidence in Barr Street shooting case

Warning against the circulation and distortion of evidence in an ongoing criminal case, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday confirmed the authenticity of the latest video recording being circulated of the shooting incident involving the Head of the Special Branch Unit and the Opposition Leader.

The DPP expressed some concern about the presence of the video recording on social media, and the “prejudicial” commentary about it.

The DPP’s Office confirmed that the video footage forms part of the prosecution’s case in the criminal proceedings pending at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, explaining that it was disclosed to Defense Counsel in Court on Friday the 06^th day of November 2026.

It was further explained that the video recording in circulation is one link in an evidential chain that forms part of the prosecution’s case.

The DPP said to extract the video recording in abstract without regard to other evidence in the file, including the statements from witnesses that relate specifically to that footage will not only prejudice a fair trial but may amount to obstructing the course of justice.

The DPP’s Office complained that in many of the publications on social media, only a small excerpt of the said extracted video footage, is being circulated, compounding the perversion of the evidence in the ongoing criminal case.

The video footage, according to the DPP, comes from the camera system of the home of one of the main witnesses for the prosecution who submitted it in support of a written statement given to the police.

The DPP wants users of social media to immediately cease and desist circulating and distorting partial evidence in an ongoing criminal case, noting that while the DPP’s Office respect people’s constitutional right to comment on important matters, evidence is a matter for the determination of the court.

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.

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