CLAIMS BY inmates that shots were fired into their cells during a two-day mini riot at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional facility in May, were corroborated yesterday by ballistics expert, retired assistant commissioner of police, Daniel Wray.
Mr. Wray was giving testimony on day 17 of the Commission of Inquiry probing the stand-off between inmates, soldiers and correctional officers at the maximum security pri-son during which more than 300 inmates were injured. It is also seeking to find out how contraband entered the facility.
Both soldiers and warders on duty at the time of the disturbance on May 21 and 22, had denied firing into cells in their effort to bring order to the situation. But Mr. Wray told sole commissioner, Justice Lloyd Ellis, that bullets from high powered and other weapons were in fact fired into some cell blocks.
According to the retired assistant commissioner, at least four shots were fired from outside the new cell block, six to seven metres from the west wall of the block at an angle close to 45 degrees. Three of the bullets struck the one-inch bars (the grillwork at the front the cells), the other striking the grill bar of the passage floor. All the shots Mr. Wray said were directed at the passage area.
He also corroborated testimony given last week by inmate number 11 who told the commission that a warder fired into his cell in an effort to get him out. The ballistic expert said two holes consistent with one shot being fired from outside the passage through the cell door, was found in cell number 30 where inmate number 11 is housed. The inmate said he believed he was shot after he noticed two holes in his left leg.
According to Mr. Wray, the damage to the grillwork in front of the cells is consistent with being hit by bullets from high powered weapons like the self-loading rifles used by Jamaica Defence Force soldiers.
The retired assistant commissioner said although he was only given five minutes to inspect the new cell block, he found evidence that at least six shots were fired there, including from high powered weapons. He said one shot was fired into the ceiling of the passageway. He also testified of receiving three envelopes containing three warheads which he said were allegedly dug from the wall of the new cell block. Two of the warheads were from a .357 magnum, the other from a magnum special.
Meantime, Granville Gause, superintendent of police who is heading the criminal investigation, also testified before the inquiry yesterday.
He said the confiscated items that were shown to him, included 55 ratchet knives, 15 kitchen knives, five pen knives, 92 man-made knives, one file, a machete, 10 razor blades, 110 man- made ice picks, 1,292 small packets of ganja, loose ganja weighing one pound and a camera complete with flash.
He said the police have not made much progress in their efforts to locate the owners of cellular phones that were confiscated. He said cellular phone no. 771-4618 was traced to a Grants Pen Road address to a woman who had started an affair with Christopher "Little Chris" Campbell who was shot and killed by the police earlier this year. He was wanted for at least two counts of murder. The woman cannot be found.
"Everything you need, with the right contact you can get it," the superintendent said when asked if he knew how contraband entered the prison.
