JANE CHALMERS DUCKETT

AM the wife of George Duckett. We were married on April 24, 1953. We have one daughter, Marcia, born on 7th March, 1955. We came to Bermuda on 29th December, 1969 and resided at Bleak House, Devonshire, since then.

About 2 p.m. on Saturday, 9th September, 1972 George arrived home from Police Headquarters. We had lunch on the front veranda facing the sea, on the little table. We finished lunch about 3 p.m. We tidied up after lunch taking things through to the kitchen. Marcia went to bed to have a rest; she had just had a (throat) operation. George took his lounge chair to the front veranda by the redwood table along with a book and settled down to read.

I went in to see if Marcia was all right. Marcia talked about school things and she wanted to change her library book. We told George about this, he came indoors and said he would have a little rest and would go to bed. I think I saw him go to bed.

Marcia and I went into town in (my) little car. We parked by Archie Browns. It was twenty to five; I said, "Gosh, we haven't got much time". Marcia went off to the library and I went to Trimingham's to change some shopping. I waited for Marcia at Trimingham's steps, she came from the library and we went to Gordons for more shopping. We went home, arriving just after 5 p.m.

George was still fast asleep in bed. I made tea, Marcia had coffee. I went into the lounge and drank my tea. About quarter to six George came through, quite cheerful and dressed in a sarong thing he wore when sleeping.

We went out into the veranda by the redwood table; this would be between 6-6:30 p.m. On my return from town I parked my car in its usual place, under the car port to the south of the kitchen. I drove straight in. George's (official) car was by the steps of the backdoor. I cannot say what direction it was facing.

We had drinks on the veranda. I had a pink gin, he had lime juice and soda. At 7 p.m. we went indoors to watch the news on television in the lounge. About this time we put the lights on in the lounge, the security lights on the back veranda, the security light outside the kitchen. I am not sure if we put the dining room lights on but the light in the hallway was (on) and also in the kitchen. It would likely be me that put the lights on.

I cannot remember the last call that came into the house. I do remember (Acting Governor) Mr. (I.A.C.) Kinnear calling George about 10:45 a.m.

All the security lights are controlled from switches inside. The back porch switch is in the dining room, the other is in the kitchen. The dining room door leading to the back veranda was locked and the kitchen door was locked. The kitchen window was up; I think the screen was down.

We watched TV and we were all quite happy. George was teasing Marcia about losing weight. We watched . I went through to the kitchen to see to supper; this would be about 8.15 p.m. Marcia took hers through on a tray. I took soup through to George. I ate from a bowl on my knee. George decided he did not want to eat as we had a large lunch. He helped me take the things through to the kitchen.

Whilst coming through to the kitchen, George said: "That security light is out" (the one outside the kitchen door). He was still dressed in his sarong; he did not have any shoes on his feet. I said to him, "Gosh, it is not long since we replaced it". I said, "Let's leave it till tomorrow, we are all tired."

He said, "No. I'll do it now, get me the bulb."

I went through to the store, got a bulb and brought it through and gave it to him.

He said, "Is the switch off?"

He opened the door and pushed the screen door open, stood facing in the direction of my little car, raised his left hand to take the bulb out and suddenly there was a "pop" noise.

I thought he had dropped the bulb. I had gone back in and I turned round and saw him falling into the kitchen; he had blood on his side. There was a lot of blood. I went to his side, tried to turn him over but couldn't. Then I saw blood coming from his mouth. Then the blood started pouring out all down his nostrils and from his mouth.

Then I tried the phone. It was dead.

From the phone I screamed for Marcia. She was still watching TV. We went to George and tried to pull him over on his side. We were slipping all over the place in the blood. I then went to the phone a second time and there was no connection. There was blood everywhere.

She helped me to turn his head on the side as he had fallen. The door had closed to behind him. I went back to the phone again trying to get through when I heard further "pop" "pop" sounds. There were several of them, about five not counting George's.

Marcia was still standing in the kitchen, the light was on, then she said, "Mummy, I have a pain in my chest."

I thought she had (an) asthma attack. I told her to sit down and be very quiet. I said I was going to (Police) Operations (Centre) to get help, a squad car and the ambulance to attend to George and then I would call a doctor.

I went out of the screen door by the deep freeze . . .

I drove as fast as I could all the way to Operations with my hand on the horn. I told them at Operations that the Commissioner was dying and to get somebody to the house right away. I dragged one of the PCs with me and went back to the car; the PC drove me back to the house. When we got back to the house there were lots of people there. I went back into the house. I saw Marcia sitting on the steps. I went past her into the kitchen to George. I went back to Marcia and saw she was holding something to her chest. I said, "What's happened?" She said, "I've been shot as well."

Then the ambulance came and the doctor said he was dead. I asked if I could have done anything more and he said no, he had died immediately.

Inspector (Douglas) Hebberd then came up and someone put something round Marcia and took her away to the Hospital. After Marcia had gone the doctor and nurse took me back to the lounge.

I cannot remember what happened after that.

MARCIA DUCKETT

HEARD Mum. I realised she was screaming (at first I thought she was laughing) but she went on and on. I rushed through to the kitchen. I saw Dad lying on the floor by the back door in the kitchen. The door was shut. There were great big clots of blood and there was a noise coming from him. Mum was trying to turn his head. I tried to turn him. She told me to go and try the phone. She had tried the phone before and couldn't get through.

I couldn't get through on the phone. It was whilst I was standing near the china cupboard which is to the back of the phone that I heard the popping and felt a pain in my chest. I looked down and saw blood coming from it. I went into the bathroom and put my nightdress on the blood on my right side.

I went back to the kitchen. Mummy was running between the phone and Daddy. I said, "Go in the car, quickly."

She took the keys and dashed to the car. She came back; she had taken the wrong keys. I said, "Take me with you". She said, "You stay there with Daddy" and went off telling me to lock the door. But (when) I went back to Daddy the door was shut.

I heard a car coming so I went out ? I saw (Custerfield) Crockwell and other cars and people and they were radioing for help.

Mummy came. She tried to get into the house. A policeman didn't want her to. I just sat down on the little white wall by the back porch. I remember the ambulance coming. I was still sitting there and I said, "Somebody please take me to the hospital."

(Douglas) Hebberd came and (Deputy Commissioner L.M.) "Nobby" (Clark). I asked for someone to take me to the hospital. Red took me and Crock was driving.

POLICE CONSTABLE FRANK WILLIAM SMITH

T about 2105 hours on Saturday, 9th September, 1972 I was on duty at the Traffic Compound at (Police Headquarters in) Prospect. I was in the Operations room. Mrs. George Duckett burst into the room in a very agitated state. She was covered in blood and was hysterical.

She said, "Quick, get an ambulance. The Commissioner's been hurt. He must be dead."

I dialled Ext. 253 for the ambulance.

Mrs. Duckett continued telling what had happened. She said that the Commissioner had been in the kitchen and said he was going to fix the light. He was by the kitchen window and she head "plop" "plop" "plop" and the kitchen window broke. She then became almost unintelligible due to her hysterical state.

I took Mrs. Duckett and a resuscitator back to the Commissioner's house in (her) Morris Minor LP 200. On my arrival at the house PCs Harmer and (John) Baxter were in attendance and also Sgt. Crockwell. The Commissioner's daughter was sitting on the steps at the front of the house. She was wearing a bikini and was in a dazed condition. She was clasping a piece of cloth to her right breast.

I went past her and into the kitchen. I saw the Commissioner lying on his side on the floor below the kitchen window which was broken with what appeared to be bullet holes. The Commissioner was dressed in a towel only.

There was blood all over the floor and all over the Commissioner. He had what appeared to be a chest wound. He seemed dead. When I went out the ambulance was just arriving.

POLICE CONSTABLE JOHN BAXTER

T about 2100 hours on Saturday, 9th September 1972 I was on duty in police vehicle call-sign Tango 6. I was accompanied by PC (Gerald) Harmer. We were parked close to the entrance to McBeath Block at the Police Barracks, Prospect. I heard the radio operator Sgt. C. Roberts ask for the location of Tango Five and they replied Pitts Bay Road. Sgt. Roberts said words to the effect that they should go immediately to "Bleak House".

During this transmission I heard a woman's voice During this transmission I heard a woman's voice screaming in the background. She was saying, "Get an ambulance, he's been shot."

We decided we should go to "Bleak House" as it was obviously a serious incident. We drove at high speed to "Bleak House" from Prospect. We overtook one car travelling in the same direction just east of the old hospital . . . There was no traffic going the other way.

We arrived at "Bleak House" at 2113 hours and saw the Commissioner's official car P9450 parked in the yard facing southwest. It was on the house side of the driveway.

We both got out of the car and went towards the kitchen. I saw the Commissioner's daughter Marcia in the doorway just inside leaning on the door pillar. She was holding her right arm across her chest. She moved towards us and I saw she was covered in blood on her hands and stomach.

She said, "He's in there" and pointed back into the kitchen. She was in a state of shock.

We could see into the kitchen and the Commissioner was lying on the far side of the kitchen on his left side with his head resting downwards. He was more or less in the southeastern corner. His back appeared (to be) against the cabinets on the eastern side. His legs were bent coming back towards the west. There was a lot of blood on the floor and all around his body. His nose and mouth were covered in blood. He was dressed in a cotton towelling bath robe.

. . . He was gurgling in his blood in his throat. His eyes were closed. The gurgling stopped within seconds. I didn't touch him at all. He appeared obviously dead.

By this time PC Harmer had gone out to the car to summon assistance. I noticed the window on the eastern side of the kitchen had several holes in it.

I went outside and Marcia was sitting on the wall. I could then see she was injured and I asked her if she was all right and she said, "Yes."

Sgt. Crockwell then arrived on the scene. Mrs. Duckett then came back accompanied by PC Frank Smith in the white Morris LP 200. I was coming out of the kitchen as Mrs. Duckett started to go in. I tried to stop her going in but she was hysterical and went in anyway.

I moved LP 200 out of the driveway and put it on the grass to make way for the ambulance. Myself and PC Erskine Warner opened the front driver's door and released the handbrake. We pushed it about three feet forwards. Then other police officers arrived. Inspector (Sean) Sheehan arrived in his own car. Insp. Hebberd arrived in Rover 1 and Mr. Clark also arrived . PC Harmer and I then used Tango 6 as the control (post).

N Saturday, 9th September 1972 I was working 4 p.m. to midnight . . . on Police vehicle P7531 with call sign Tango Six . . . At about 9.10 p.m. that same day we were stationary outside the single men's quarters at Prospect. I was away from the vehicle when I heard PC Baxter shout to me. I returned to the vehicle and PC Baxter immediately set off and then said to me, "There's a 10-55 at the Commissioner's residence."

. . . On arrival at "Bleak House" about three minutes later I saw the Commissioner's official Police car parked just to the west of the entrance to the house, facing in a westerly direction. This is the entrance to the southern side of the house. The driver's side of the car was more or less next to the entrance.

. . . I immediately got out of the car and ran towards the house. As I ran towards the house I saw the Commissioner's daughter Marcia standing on the porch near to the porch entrance to the kitchen . . . She appeared to be in a state of shock and half-pointed with her left hand towards the kitchen and said, "In there."

I went into the kitchen and saw Mr. Duckett lying in the southeast corner of the kitchen . . . The whole area around him, the walls, the cupboards, the floor, were covered in blood. His eyelids were closed and he appeared to be either unconscious or dead. I went almost up to him but I didn't go in the blood area, and I heard a slight gurgling sound coming from his throat.

I realised there was nothing I could do to help him.

. . . The ambulance arrived followed by Mr. Clark, Deputy Commissioner shortly after. I remained by the control post approximately 10 minutes receiving and transmitting calls. During that time Insp. Sheehan arrived and came up to me and told me to take Sgt. Crockwell's car and convey Mrs. Duckett to hospital, accompanied by a nurse and doctor.

Sgt. Crockwell's car had been parked alongside Tango 6 and I immediately reversed it and stopped by the main entrance to the house. Mr. Clark then led Mrs. Duckett out and sat her in the back seat. The nurse got in beside me and we then drove to the hospital where Mrs. Duckett was taken into emergency care . . . She didn't say anything during the journey.

SGT. CUSTERFIELD CROCKWELL

T about 2100 hours on Saturday, September 9th, 1972 I booked on the air in Police vehicle P9296, call sign Charlie Seven. At this time I was level with the water tank behind Police Headquarters at Prospect, travelling towards Middle Road.

I heard the Operations man call over the air. I thought I heard screams, possibly female, in the background . . . The Operations man (said) to go directly to the Commissioner's house as it was an emergency.

. . . I drove straight into the Commissioner's driveway and Tango Six was immediately in front of me. The crew of Tango Six . . . ran to the kitchen door and went in. I went in after them. I saw the Commissioner's daughter standing just outside the door on the porch. She was wearing a bikini and had her arms folded across her chest. She appeared calm and didn't say anything.

I saw the Commissioner of Police lying on his back with his head lying on the left-hand side. I saw blood all over his face and all over the floor. His whole body appeared covered in blood . . . I told the two PCs not to touch anything. I think one of the PCs went to check the Commissioner's body but to me it was obvious if he wasn't dead he was very seriously wounded.

I went to my vehicle and used the radio to summon mobile reserves and any other assistance I could get. I told one of the PCs to stay by the radio as he would be the control vehicle at the scene.

. . . I remember Mrs. Duckett arrived in her car together with police constables . . . Mrs. Duckett went straight into the house to her husband's side. She came back outside and spoke to me asking about the ambulance and doctors. She was hysterical and obviously very agitated. By this time (Deputy Commissioner) Clark arrived and Insp. Hebberd with the mobile reserves.

Insp. Sheehan also arrived. Insp. Hebberd then told Mr. Clark that the Commissioner's daughter had also been shot (I should state that while Mrs. Duckett was talking to me about the ambulance, doctors, etc. she kept repeating, "Crock, get hold of (Deputy Governor) Mr. Kinnear. He knows all about this." PC Warner was standing nearby when she kept saying this). Mr. Clark then directed me to take the Commissioner's daughter to King Edward Hospital and Insp. Hebberd to come along as well. The ambulance by this time had arrived.