Ayuso cleared in Leslie Rogers Jr.?s death

In February 2005, the death of Leslie Rogers Junior sparked public outrage and controversy. Tonight, the fact that the police officer who pulled the trigger is now a free man threatens to do more of the same. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.

Aldo Ayuso, Cleared of Charges
?Tremendous relief, after a year of going through punishment and suffering.?

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord, this morning accused killer Aldo Ayuso was legally cleared of a charge of manslaughter in the February 2005 shooting death of 21 year old Leslie Rogers Junior as per the directives of a memo from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Aldo Ayuso
?What I did was justified. I was protecting my life in the line of duty. So I?m just happy that it went the way I was hoping for.?

Ayuso was arrested and charged with manslaughter after a coroner?s inquest into the Rogers? shooting concluded that the then police officer was criminally responsible for the young man?s death. The victim died from a gunshot wound to the head. Ayuso has maintained he pulled the trigger in self defence. Today, he told us his plans for the future.

Aldo Ayuso
?I love the police. I love the work I did in the police. I love the unit that I was with. I received a lot of problems with some of the senior ranks in the department. But I believe I will go back in the police, but I?m just going to take some time off and recuperate after all that I?ve been through.?

Janelle Chanona
?Whether you feel vindicated or not, a man lost his life. Do you feel any remorse or sympathy towards the family??

Aldo Ayuso
?Yes, I?m deeply sorry. I?ve known Mr. Rogers Senior for quite a number of years and Ms. Bennett. I?m very sorry for what happened to their family member; however, I must state that there was nothing else I could have done in that situation. In my eyes, it was either him or me.?

Patricia Bennett, Aunt
?I was hoping against hope, that that was not going to be the case, but my worse fears were confirmed this morning. Especially when no reasons were given, and it is something that I have always found not acceptable at all for a nation. That a decision of the magnitude of things like that can be made and the general public is not given any reason as to why these things are done.?

For the family of Leslie Rogers Jr., this case is not over.

Patricia Bennett
?We can?t do anything about the judgment sent down by the Director of Public Prosecutions. But we do believe that the family has another recourse and that is that we will be taking out a civil suit against either Ayuso or the Police Department, because at the time he was a police officer of the Police Department. And by virtue of that we feel that they are both responsible.?

Leslie Rogers Sr., Father
?It will be hurt for me, because everybody wants somebody when they retire to have an heir, but I don?t have an heir now. But I hope I can go on from here. Keep calm and carry on from here.?

Patricia Bennett
?The truth should always prevail and we as a family would like for the truth to come out, and that justice be done.?

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

Ayuso was defended in court today by attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley.