The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE superintendent whose fatal shooting of an American utility worker triggered US diplomatic pressure, an offer of FBI assistance and calls for a review of rules governing firearms carried by off-duty officers denied murder in the Supreme Court on Friday.

Superintendent Berneil Pinder, 54, pleaded not guilty to killing Cody Castillo, a 31-year-old Pike Corporation worker who was shot through the side window of his company truck outside Da Plantation Bar & Grill on West Bay Street on March 21.

The case drew international attention within days of the shooting. The US Embassy called for justice “without delay”, while US Ambassador Herschel Walker later offered FBI assistance to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis called for a full and transparent investigation and a review of firearm policies for off-duty officers.

Pinder was off duty when Castillo was killed shortly before 6pm.

Police initially reported that an altercation began inside the bar and continued outside, where a man entered a vehicle and allegedly drove towards the officer “in a threatening manner”, prompting him to fire because he feared for his life.

But The Tribune subsequently established that Castillo had not been involved in the dispute inside the bar. He had driven there to collect his younger brother, cousin and another co-worker, all of whom worked for Pike.

Castillo was shot in the chest through the side window of the white Ford truck he was driving. He was found lying on his stomach outside the vehicle in a pool of blood and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Pike vehicle was equipped with a dashboard camera, while National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed investigators had also obtained CCTV footage from the area. Mr Munroe said shortly before Pinder was charged that police were treating Castillo’s death as a criminal investigation rather than automatically sending the matter to the Coroner’s Court, as typically occurs after police-involved killings.

Pinder was charged with murder four days after the shooting.

Castillo, who was from Huntsville, Texas, had been working in The Bahamas on New Providence’s electricity grid upgrades. His wife was four months pregnant with their first child when he was killed.

His death also disrupted the $130m grid upgrade project, with about 40 Pike workers leaving New Providence in its immediate aftermath. Bahamas Grid Company chairman Anthony Ferguson later said the shooting left many of the workers “fearful” and contributed to the project being delayed by about two months.

Pinder appeared calm on Friday as he entered his not guilty plea before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns.

He is scheduled to return before Justice Archer-Minns for a trial date fixture on October 7.

Cassie Bethel represented Pinder.

Eucal Bonaby and Betty Wilson prosecuted the case.