Hicken testifies on shootout with `Fine man’ gang at Christmas Falls

Never visited Lindo Creek

Under questioning by Commissioner Trotman, Hicken stated that he had never been deployed to Lindo Creek, and as second-in-charge of the Tactical Services Unit at the time, noted that he would have

known if they had been. He later said that the only way that could have occurred was if a direct order was passed by the Police Commissioner in his absence.

Trotman later asked if there was any way that the slain miners could have been mistaken for members of the Fine Man gang, based on photos released in the media, against those issued on the wanted bulletin, to which Hicken stated that he had never made a comparison.

The witness was then shown photos of the eight Lindo Creek miners, and attorney Patrice Henry, pressing forth, asked if it wasn’t the case that new members of the “ever increasing” Fine Man Gang were not being discovered by the Joint Services at the time (to which he responded yes), and if then, if the miners could not have been mistaken for or borne a similar resemblance to one of those men. “I wouldn’t know that,” Hicken responded.

The CoI has been set up to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the killings of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong on or about June 21st, 2008, and to report its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.