Shooter testifies to Commission of Inquiry

Thirteen witnesses have testified since the Commission of Inquiry investigating the shooting deaths of three Guatemalans began its work on Tuesday. This morning the officer in charge of the eight B.D.F. soldiers sent to San Vicente Village in November of last year took the stand. The statement he gave the police a day after the incident was read back to him by Commission Chairman Herbert Lord. The officer affirmed under cross-examination that he fired two quick shots with his M-16 rifle, which took down one of the three Guatemalans as he advanced toward the patrol wielding a machete. He said that after the first man was shot, he issued orders, as head of the platoon, for the others to shoot. He then heard one shot, which he said was fired by the ninth member of the team; a police officer from the Dragon Unit. During cross-examination, Lord asked the head of the patrol why he didn’t fire a warning shot at the feet of the on-coming assailants. The second Lieutenant replied: “No, we’re not trained like police officers to fire warning shots. We shoot to kill.” He continued by telling the commission that he ordered his patrol to retreat after first calling Brigadier General Cedric Borland, Commandant of the B.D.F. After explaining the scenario to Borland, he received permission to depart. The three-member commission takes a weekend break and comes back on Monday when the Dragon Unit officer is expected to be among the witnesses to take the stand.