The father of a man killed in a January police confrontation in St Augustine has launched a blistering attack on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), calling the upcoming charges against his daughter-in-law a manufactured lie designed to shift blame and cover up police misconduct.
Christopher Samaroo, father of the deceased Joshua Samaroo, spoke out publicly one day after authorities announced Kaia Sealy would face two serious criminal charges: shooting with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on police officers, and manslaughter for Joshua Samaroo’s death during the January 20 incident.
Rejecting the official narrative outright, Samaroo accuses the TTPS of framing Sealy to distract from their own role in the fatal encounter. In a phone interview with local outlet Express, Samaroo made clear he will not accept the police’s version of events. “Joshua is dead and my daughter-in-law is still alive, and I have to do everything to help her with his child and her,” he said, adding that law enforcement is deliberately spreading falsehoods to protect themselves from scrutiny.
Samaroo pointed out gaping logical inconsistencies in the official account, questioning how Sealy could simultaneously be the shooter and the person shot by officers. He also challenged the claim that she fired at police, noting that Joshua Samaroo had his hands extended outside of his vehicle when officers confronted him, making the police narrative impossible. “That does not make any sense. Another easy way they are trying to get out of the quicksand they are in,” Samaroo said, arguing the TTPS is facing mounting public backlash over this case and a string of other controversial police-involved shootings.
The grieving father called on Trinidad and Tobago society to confront what he described as systemic “insanity” in law enforcement. While he expressed faith that divine guidance will ultimately lead to justice, he also dropped a hint that he holds key evidence that will be revealed at the appropriate time. “I have a trump card that I will release when the time is right. The last say will be with me because I talk to my God every night, and he is going to direct me as to what is going to take place,” Samaroo said. He reiterated his unflinching accusation of institutional corruption, stating “The TTPS is corrupted, and I say that without fear or favour.”
Criston Williams, the attorney representing the Samaroo family, declined to elaborate beyond noting that the family is eager to understand how prosecutors have built the case against Sealy. “The family is very curious to see how the charge is constructed, but beyond that I have no further comment,” Williams said.