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Officer testifies that deadly force was necessary in fatal shooting of Aliko Collins

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN officer testified yesterday that deadly force was necessary in the fatal shooting of Aliko Collins in Pinewood Gardens in 2017 - saying that Collins had a gun.

The inquest into 21-year-old Collins police-involved killing continued before Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux.

Now-retired Superintendent Basil Collie, the subject of the inquest, reportedly shot and killed Collins after he and two accomplices accosted the officer during a walk on Bamboo Blvd in the early morning hours of February 8, 2017. The officer claims the deceased had a gun on him.

This is the second time an inquest has been conducted in this shooting after the first jury was dismissed in May.

Inspector Jake Petty, of the police armoury, said Supeintendent Collie passed his firearm and shotgun certifications in the 80th and 90th percentiles. 

Inspector Petty also said officers are trained to use deadly force if they are faced with a deadly threat. He said he believed deadly force was necessary when Mr Collie was confronted by a potentially armed threat.

Detective Sergeant Jonnel Nixon-Adderley, of the firearm registry, said the deceased was not registered to have a firearm. She said if the deceased had a weapon it would have been illegal.

No relatives of the deceased were present in court.

K Melvin Munroe represented Mr Collie.

Angelo Whitfield marshaled the evidence.

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