By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE investigator in the case of a man accused of pulling a gun on two police officers on Mutton Fish Drive in 2020 testified yesterday that the defendant gave “no comment” during his police interview.
Superintendent Keno Demeritte testified before Justice Loren Klein in the trial of Laseheno Cox, who faces two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Cox is accused of exiting a vehicle and pointing a gun at Inspector Jermaine Flowers and Police Constable 4856 Travis Davis on November 5, 2020.
Superintendent Demeritte read the record of interview he conducted with the defendant at CID around noon on November 12.
The record said Cox was allegedly driving a white two-door Honda Civic on the day of the incident when he nearly collided with Inspector Flowers and PC Davis’s police car on Reef Street.
Superintendent Demeritte said that after the officers turned on their police lights and signalled to the accused, he allegedly sped off.
A chase followed, ending after the suspect allegedly crashed his vehicle on Mutton Fish Drive.
The investigator said the accused exited his vehicle while holding a handgun, which he then allegedly pointed at the officers.
Superintendent Demeritte read that after the accused refused to comply with orders to drop the weapon, the two officers fired at him.
The suspect then allegedly threw the weapon over a fence and ran from authorities.
During the interview, Superintendent Demeritte noted that the accused had an injury to his lower lip, which the officer suggested he got while jumping over a barbed wire fence trying to evade police.
The officer further claimed that the suspect got a ride to Princess Margaret Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot injury he allegedly received when police fired at him.
Superintendent Demeritte said the accused allegedly lifted his shirt during the interview to show a wound, which the officer suggested came from police gunfire.
The officer questioned the defendant during the interview about why he had a gun and what his intentions were that day.
He also questioned him about whether he used the name Laseheno Stuart.
Superintendent Demeritte said the licence plate and registration disc did not match on the suspect’s vehicle. He added that a passport in the defendant’s name was recovered from the vehicle.
The accused reportedly answered “no comment” to all questions put to him during the interview.
The defendant signed the record of interview.
Basil Cumberbatch is prosecuting the case, while Ian Jupp represents the accused.
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