Policeman denies lying on gun-accused

A police officer on Monday refuted suggestions that he had fabricated evidence against gun-accused Renaldo Omario Griffith.

Constable Damien Gollop maintained that position when he returned to the witness stand as the firearm and ammunition trial against Griffith and Shaquille Stephen Edwards continued in the No. 4 Supreme Court today.

Griffith, of Fitts Gap, Westbury Road, St Michael and Edwards, of Pickwick Gap, St Michael are charged with possession of a 9 mm Glock semi automatic pistol and 38 rounds of ammunition on January 24, 2019.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Shadia Simpson who is representing both men, Constable Gollop told the court his role was to interview Griffith in relation to the offences.

The officer admitted that in giving evidence previously, he told the court Griffith was wearing blue disposable gloves when the car in which he was travelling was intercepted by police. He had said on the witness stand that when Griffith was asked about the gloves he told police he was going to rob a man.

However, Simpson pointed out to Constable Gollop that he had made no mention of blue disposable gloves in his own statement.

After perusing his statement, the witness admitted there was no mention of the blue disposable gloves.

“I am suggesting to you that the reason it is not there is because it is a fabrication on your part,” Simpson suggested to the witness.

“No, it was an omission in my statement,” Gollop responded, while also refuting suggestions that he was being untruthful to the court.

Simpson further suggested that Griffith was innocent.

She said her client had denied any knowledge of the firearm and ammunition.

When asked about certain aspects of the investigation, Constable Gollop told the court he was not the lead investigator and had only been assigned to interview Griffith.

As a result, he said, he did not investigate whether Griffith was the owner of the car. He said he did not inspect the firearm and was also not in a position to speak on the ownership of the firearm.