Tower Suites, Club Privilege workers charged with deleting footage of nightclub shooting
Three employees of Tower Suites and Club Privilege on Main Street were yesterday charged with attempting to obstruct justice by deleting video footage of a shooting that took place at the nightclub.
Andre Rochford, 43, of Lot 28 Victoria Street, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago, who is the manager of Club Privilege; Keisha Phillips, of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, who is the General Manager of Tower Suites Hotel; and Ronald O’Brien, of D’Urban Street, a technician, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown on a charge that on January 8th, 2017, at Main Street, they willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by deleting CCTV footage depicting a shooting incident.
After pleading not guilty, they were each asked to post $700,000 bail for their release.
Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves told the court that a police investigator went to Club Privilege and spoke with Rochford and Phillips and questioned them on the shooting. Gonsalves said the officer asked for the footage but was told by the two that they can only access the footage with the aid of their technician. The court was told by Gonsalves that the police rank left and went back to the club later on in the day to view the CCTV footage and it was discovered that some of the footage had been deleted.
The three accused were represented by attorney Mark Waldron, who asked the magistrate for a reduction in the bail. The lawyer argued that his clients could not afford the large amount. But his request was turned down by Magistrate Latchman, who adjourned the matter to March 10th.
At around 3am on the January 8th, there was an exchange of gunshots inside Club Privilege, which resulted in injuries and management failed to make the necessary report to the police. It was not until the afternoon when an injured person provided the police with information that they were made aware of the shooting.
Before investigators arrived at the scene, the area had been cleaned, including of blood, and spent shells were picked up. However, there were visible holes in the wall of the club.
On Wednesday, Leon Duncan, called ‘Whistle,’ was charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Ceon Nedd, with intent to maim, disfigure, and to cause grievous bodily harm at the club. He was remanded to prison by chief magistrate Ann McLennan.