Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 02/Aug 07:12

No autopsy yet for Sea Lots man killed by cops after officer shot

The family of Jonathan Wharwood, a 39-year-old-mason who was killed by police in Sea Lots, say an autopsy is yet to be done on his remains. Wharwood was killed around 1.30am on July 23 by police investigating an incident in which an officer was shot while on patrol the previous day. Police, in a statement hours after Wharwood’s death, said he attacked officers carrying out a search at his home, but neighbours said that was not true. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Newsday on July 31, Wharwood’s family said his first autopsy had to be stopped after the pathologist was unsatisfied with the answers he received from the police about Wharwood’s death. A female relative said the police officer who witnessed the autopsy told them he was unable to answer the pathologist’s questions. “We went to identify body and they sent a sergeant. They started the process and the pathologist was asking questions and (the officer) couldn’t answer. He told us afterwards that because he couldn’t answer the questions, the pathologist stopped the autopsy and requested the presence of a senior officer who could answer his questions.” The family said they had spent the last week liaising with the funeral home and the police but still had not made any progress. “We keep calling the police everyday. Every time we call the Besson Street Police Station to find out what is happening, they keep saying no senior officer is there to go (to the autopsy).” The family said the entire ordeal had been trying and they wanted justice as they still believed Wharwood was wrongfully killed. “We are trying to deal with it but we are not dealing with it well, especially given the manner in which he was killed... “He has three children under the age of 18 and they are now fatherless, and it is really unfair to his children and his family. We believe this must be treated with and some sort of intervention should occur.” They said people had suggested they pay for an independent autopsy but they said they did not have the money for it. Another relative said she just wanted two things for Wharwood – a proper burial and justice. “He was already wrongfully killed and we don’t want this to happen to anyone else. We don’t want his body to decompose and they lose the ability to collect evidence. “We are hoping it could be resolved quickly so we can get the relevant answers and an example could be set if necessary.” Newsday was told Wharwood’s autopsy had been scheduled for Friday but the family said they were unaware of any planned date for the autopsy. “That is the first we are hearing of that,” said a female relative. They said the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) visited the scene of his killing the day afterwards and had already begun its investigation. Wharwood’s family filed a complaint with the PCA after neighbours said the police’s account of his death was inaccurate. Neighbours said shortly after police stormed the compound and questioned several people, including Wharwood, officers escorted him back to his room. Minutes later, they heard four gunshots. On July 23, a neighbour who identified himself only by his alias Blinchman told Newsday he was in the yard when Wharwood was shot. “They were asking him, (about the St Paul Street shooting) but he don’t know because he would have been asleep at the time. He cooked for everybody on the block and went to take a rest. “While they asking him... That wasn’t enough and they bring him out the room, carry him back in and then... “The policeman turned and said, ‘Man down, man down, man down.’ After he said that, the rest of police run inside and said, ‘Oh God, boy, is the wrong man boy. Oh s---, bring the jeep.’” The post No autopsy yet for Sea Lots man killed by cops after officer shot appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.