The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE corporal testified yesterday that he found Petty Officer Percival Perpall “motionless” and slumped over on a couch with bullet wounds to his upper body when he responded to a shooting incident at Government House in 2019.

Detective Cpl 3652 Chris Curry made the statement as he recalled the role he played in investigating the events that took place on April 28, 2019.

According to reports, around 2.30 that morning, PO Perpall, Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming were attacked while on duty at Government House. The men were said to be in a guardroom when a lone assailant entered, and opened fire on them.

Prosecutors allege Able Seaman Jevon Seymour is responsible for the shooting death of PO Perpall as well as the attempted murders of Hanna and Rahming.

Seymour denies the allegations.

Yesterday, Cpl Curry said he received reports of the shooting around 2.40 on the morning in question. He said when he arrived at the scene, he and his partner spoke with Leading Seaman Gaitor who led them upstairs to the guardroom.

He said upon entering, he saw Perpall sitting on a couch, “slumped over and motionless”.

Cpl Curry said he then contacted the police control room to request EMS assistance, before making checks of the front and rear sections of the guardroom. During his search he noticed “a number” of .9mm casings on the floor, he said.

“A short time later, EMS personnel arrived at the scene, made checks of the body and found it unresponsive,” he told the court. “I noticed two gunshot wounds to his right elbow, one to his right shoulder, one to his right chest and one to his left side.”

Yesterday, Sergeant 2052 Antwoine Hamilton also gave evidence under oath. He said when he spoke to Seymour at his apartment around 4.35 on the morning in question, the accused told him he knew PO Perpall. He also said the two of them had worked on an assignment on one of the islands.

Sgt Hamilton said at that point, Seymour “stopped abruptly” then “breathed a little harder”. He said Seymour then told him he “heard rumours circulating pertaining to him shooting Perpall at Government House”, but denied the accusations.

Vehicle

Sgt Hamilton said based on that information, he arrested and cautioned the accused. He also said when officers searched Seymour’s vehicle that morning, they found two long sleeved army shirts, a pair of black boots and a white hat which were all in the rear left section of his car.

During his testimony, Cpl Curry also said he went to the Carmichael Road Police Station around 4.40am on April 28. He said when he got there, he noticed Seymour sitting inside the charge room.

“As I walked inside, I heard the suspect shouting ‘Bey I ain’t kill no (expletive) one...I wasn’t even at Government House,’” he stated. “He continued to shout in a very irate and angry manner.”

Cpl Curry said he then informed Seymour that his residence would be searched in reference to an unlicensed firearm. Still, he said when he told the accused to stand and place his hands behind his back, Seymour told him “I ain’t putting my hand behind my back because I ain’t no (expletive) criminal.”

Cpl Curry said he asked Seymour to comply “several times”, but he grew “extremely violent” and pushed him off. He said during the struggle, other officers came to help him handcuff Seymour. He said it was at that time that he noticed slight scratches on the accused’s right shin and lip.

He said when officers asked Seymour if he needed medical assistance he said, “Just hurry up clear my name.”

When Petty Officer William Johnson took the stand, he said he served as the guard commander of Government House at the time of the incident.

PO Johnson said in February 2019, he was informed that Seymour was going to Ragged Island with PO Perpall and other officers on assignment.

He said when he told Seymour he wanted him to bring him back some fish, the accused told him he had just been injured and was back in New Providence after getting three to four days off.

According to PO Johnson, on April 4, 2019, Seymour told him he received additional days off. He also said the accused told him to stop by his house for the fish three days later.

“While at his residence he showed me his leave pass and said he was off until April 18. He also requested vacation days from April 21-26.”

PO Johnson said on April 9, 2019, he received information that prompted him to contact Seymour and inform him that he had been reported as absent without leave (AWOL) “from the time he was sick until April 4”.

He said when Seymour reported back to work at Government House on April 21, he received additional information stating the accused had to report to the Defence Force base “concerning an AWOL charge”.

PO Johnson said Seymour later told him the prosecution department said the only way the charges could be dropped was if a commanding officer dismissed them.

Nonetheless, he said he told the accused the only person who could “get him off the charges” was PO Perpall, as he was under his command in Ragged Island. PO Johnson said Seymour told him he would contact PO Perpall and that was the “last thing” he heard from him.

Former Correctional Officer Zendall Colebrooke was the last person to give sworn evidence. He said in 2019, he was stationed at Government House. He also said that in May of that same year, he found a black holster under a heap of dirt on the eastern side of the property. He also said he discovered a black pistol and magazine in the same area.

He said after he noticed the items, he called the control officer at Government House who in turn contacted the police.

The case continues today.