Army Corporal testifies in CEMACO truck shooting
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Maluska Williams (at the bottom of the steps) and Wayne Matthew (at the top) leaving the court room yesterday after the first day of trial. They are jointly charged with the attempted murder of Defence Force Corporal, Joseph Bergan |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CORPORAL Joseph Bergan sat before his alleged attackers in court yesterday afternoon and recounted the incident that changed his life after he was shot in the line of duty on December 2, 2005.
Bergan’s alleged attackers,, Maluska Williams and Wayne Matthew, appeared in court yesterday to answer to the charge of attempted murder.
Bergan, according to reports, was providing security for a CEMACO truck on December 2, 2005 when he shot in the neck by a masked assailant.
On taking the stand, Bergan told the court that at approximately 8:15 a.m. on the day in question, he was detailed for duty, issued a weapon and picked up by a CEMACO-owned vehicle which took him to the CEMACO Wholesale Department. Bergan testified that after waiting for the porter and he did not show, the driver of the vehicle, the cashier and himself took to the streets in the company's delivery truck.
“From CEMACO we went on Pond Road, Baker’s Corner and headed east. I was at the back of the truck where the goods were located. Danny (Danala Richards- Cashier) was at the front of the truck with the driver. We made our first stop in Conaree then proceeded to Key’s…made about three stops or so. One shop purchased some goods and the other two didn’t…”
Bergan testified that after making one stop in Cayon, himself and the two CEMACO workers decided to take a lunch break before continuing their journey.
“We left from where we had lunch and continued on our journey until we came to Lodge Village…I don’t know exactly where in Lodge we stopped. After the truck came to a complete stop, I was still at the back.” ~~Adz:Right~~
The soldier told the court that he disembarked the vehicle and was making his way to the front of it when an individual, decked in black clothing, approached him.
“Upon (approaching) the front of the shop, I realised that an individual, fully masked, rushed from nowhere…I saw a pistol aiming straight at my head, then I realised it was just a cloud of darkness.”
After being shot, Bergan said he slipped in and out of consciousness, but recalled hearing the voice of EMS technician Trevor Queeley.
“I have no idea what my condition was. I was in and out of consciousness. I don’t recall regaining full consciousness until, when I was awake, I found myself in a very strange place. It was West Shore Medical in Trinidad. I was there from the day of the incident to March 23, 2006.”
When Bergan returned to St. Kitts from Trinidad, he was warded at the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he received treatment for “severe pain in my neck and the entire right side of my body”.
“I am not the same person now as before the injury. My physical ability is very very poor. I can hardly do anything for myself. After sitting down for a long time, I would have someone help me with my feet. I can’t take a shower by myself… I have a son about five years old and I can’t hug him and kiss him as I wish,” the soldier expressed.
Danala Richards, Cashier for CEMACO, also gave testimony in court during which she explained that while at Lodge Village, she saw when two masked individuals dressed in black, approached Bergan. Richards, recounting the incident of that memorable day, encountered difficulty while she was on the stand and broke down in tears, but quickly regained her composure.
“I saw two guys dressed in black. I couldn’t see the faces because their faces were covered. I saw them at the front of Officer Bergan. They said ‘Freeze, don’t move!’ I ran into the supermarket. When I reached in there I heard a sound; like a ‘bang’ sound.”
Richards said that it was then that she began crying as she realised what had taken place. She said Bergan was assisted by an individual before being transported to Basseterre via an Emergency Medical Services Unit.
Both Bergan and Richards explained before the jury that they did not see who the perpetrator(s) were, but Bergan said he was able to ascertain that his assailant was dark in complexion. He explained that he was able to do so because of the holes that were in the mask (through which the perpetrator could see).
The number one accused, Williams, is being represented by Chesley Hamilton while Matthew is self-represented.
The case continues this morning at 9:30.
