The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 9mm pistol was the weapon an assailant used to kill Petty Officer Percival Perpall, according to the former director of the Forensic Science Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Chief Superintendent Earl Thompson said the department’s investigation revealed five cartridges and five bullets were fired from the Beretta pistol which was used to murder PO Perpall on April 28, 2019.

Police said the former Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer was fatally shot when an assailant opened fire on him and two of his colleagues while they were on duty at Government House around 2.30 on the morning in question.

Prosecutors allege that Able Seaman Jevon Seymour is responsible for PO Perpall’s death as well as the attempted murders of Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming.

Seymour maintains his not guilty plea.

Yesterday, Supt Thompson told jurors he examined “a number” of firearm exhibits he received from Inspector Rakel Francis in November 2019, inclusive of a .9mm Beretta, unfired cartridges and a gunshot residue (GSR) kit in Seymour’s name.

He said in September 2019, he also received five spent bullets, 13 fired cartridge cases and three unfired cartridge/ammunition from Corporal Elkia Coakley, along with four more GSR kits in the names of marines Rahming, Hanna, Rashad Humes, Leonardo Forbes and Leading Seaman Gaitor.

He explained that a cartridge was made up of a primer and bullet, which meant once the ammunition was discharged, it would separate and the bullet would go toward a target, while the fired cartridge case would be ejected. He said the “two physical things that would remain” would be the fired bullet and fired cartridge case.

Supt Thompson said when the bullets and cases were “microscopically examined and compared,” they were positively identified as being fired from the same .9mm firearm.

When prosecutor Terry Archer asked him in what direction spent ammunition fired from a .9mm beretta pistol would go, he said firearms, “for the most part”, were designed for right-handed people. He said this meant if someone was taking an arm shot, the “expended cartridge would not cross their line of sight”.

When asked, he also said if someone were standing in a doorway and shooting, the empty casing would go to the right.

Marine Hanna had previously testified about how he saw Seymour pulling a .9mm gun from his waist as the accused “stood by the doorway” of the guardroom.

He claimed that after he had finished speaking to PO Perpall that morning, he heard the “cocking of a gun” and saw Seymour when he looked through the guardroom’s door, who in turn, pointed the firearm at Perpall and began firing.

On Wednesday, Dr Kiko Bridgewater also told jurors that PO Perpall’s death was caused by gunshot wounds to his torso and right upper extremities. He said at the time of his death, PO Perpall had multiple injuries, including a lung contusion, a fractured vertebrae and a “collection of blood” in his chest cavity.

Seymour is represented by attorney Murrio Ducille. During his cross-examination of Supt Thompson yesterday, he asked him if he found any gun residue of his client on the weapon that was identified. In response, Supt Thompson said the analysis of the GSR kits were not done locally.

The case continues on Monday.