GOZ IDENTIFIES SHOOTER IN GILMAN CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 002715 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER LONDON FOR C. GURNEY PARIS FOR C. NEARY NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER AF A/S KANSTEINER AND PDAS BELLAMY AF/S FOR DIRECTOR DELISI AND DESKOFF RAYNOR OPERATIONS CENTER STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/AF RON HAWKINS DS/AF/OP DS/ICI/PII DS/DSS/ITA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2012 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CASC ASEC SUBJECT: GOZ IDENTIFIES SHOOTER IN GILMAN CASE REF: A. HARARE 2676 ¶B. HARARE 2628 ¶C. HARARE 2495 ¶D. HARARE 2487 ¶E. HARARE 2473 ¶F. HARARE 2471 ¶G. POLICE REPORT FAXED TO CA/OCS AND AF/S Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In the police report, handed to the Ambassador by the MFA (Ref C),the police identified the shooter. For the most part, the report is consistent with A/RSO's observations and investigations in Mutare in the days following the Gilman murder. RSO learned that police inquiries have been opened against the shooter, and against the deceased. Howard Gilman, the deceased's brother, is considering an Inquest if a Magistrate closes his brother's case before trial. It appears the GOZ will continue to advance the allegation that Gilman drove at roadblock officials--a claim which cannot be independently corroborated due to a lack of eyewitnesses other than the security officers involved. Nonetheless we will continue to pursue all possible leads, and press the GOZ against the use of lethal force in such situations. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On November 21, the Embassy received a copy of the police report concerning the death of Amcit Richard Gilman at a roadblock near Mutare on November 11. For the most part, the report, the full text of which is included below, is consistent with A/RSO's investigation and observation of Gilman's vehicle, and the autopsy results. However, the reported time is approximately fifteen minutes off what police initially reported to A/RSO in Mutare. And, as reported in Ref C, the deceased's brother said Richard returned to the house for his passport and not vehicle papers, which he said were in possession of police at the roadblock. Conoff forwarded the report to CA/OCS and AF/S on November 22. ¶3. (U) RSO's office spoke with police in Mutare again on November 26, and they confirmed that they had opened a Sudden Death Docket (SDD) against the shooter, and an Attempted Murder Docket against the deceased. (Note: The Sudden Death Docket is not a criminal inquiry, the Attempted Murder Docket is. End Note.) These are police inquiries into the incidents. Once completed, these will be forwarded to a Magistrate who will determine whether the SDD case should be taken to trial by opening a Murder Docket (serious charge), or a Culpable Homicide Docket (lesser charge than murder). The Magistrate may also decide to simply close the police Sudden Death Docket, and therefor the case. With the Attempted Murder Docket against the deceased, the Magistrate will determine, via witnesses, whether the deceased attempted to kill or harm roadblock officials. On November 26, RSO's office also spoke with the deceased's brother, Howard Gilman, who said he had retained a lawyer and was considering an Inquest into his brother's death if the Magistrate closed the case without trial. In an Inquest, the lawyer would be able to cross-examine witnesses in a hearing at the Magistrate's court concerning the events. To the best of our knowledge, security officers at the roadblock comprise the only first-hand witnesses. ¶4. (U) In a November 13 meeting with Foreign Minister, Stanislous Mudenge, the Ambassador expressed the US Government's strong desire for a full investigation, objected to roadblock authorities using lethal force in a dispute over vehicle documentation, and stressed the need for clarification of procedures being used at roadblocks to avoid future incidents (Ref D). GOZ officials identified the shooter in the following police report. Authorities in Mutare, during A/RSO's investigation immediately after the shooting, declined to name any of the six officers present. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) In the absence of independent witnesses on the scene at the time of the shooting, it will be difficult to divine exactly what happened on that evening. We anticipate that the GOZ will continue to forward the allegation that Gilman drove at roadblock officials--a claim for which we have no first-hand counter evidence. Nonetheless, we will continue to press the GOZ for a fair and full review of the case. We will also stress our concern about the potential future use of lethal force in such situations. End Comment. ¶6. (U) Following is the full text of the police report: UPDATE SUMMARY: SHOOTING INCIDENT: RICHARD GILMAN: 11 NOVEMBER 2002 On Monday 11 November 2002, a border patrol team based at C.M.E.D. Mutare along Vumba Road conducted a roadblock in the afternoon. The purpose of the block was to search for smuggled goods and general vehicle checks. Two police officers and four members of the Zimbabwe National Army were manning the roadblock. The four Zimbabwe National Army members were armed with AK rifles and acted as stop groups. The team was part of the provincial border special operations task force. Their purpose was to monitor and arrest border jumpers and contrabands illegally crossing the border into and from Zimbabwe. They also monitored issues of security interest. The team commander was Sergeant Machingauta of Police Mutare Rural. At the roadblock there were no roadblock equipment but all officers were in uniform with the two police officers putting on traffic sleeves. At around 1600 hours the deceased, Richard Gilman approached the roadblock driving a vehicle with foreign number plates, MHV 655 GP (South Africa) He was travelling from Vumba towards town. He stopped and was briefed of the purpose of the roadblock. He was asked to identify himself and he produced his American passport. He was then asked to produce papers relating to the vehicle but he had none. The team took possession of his documents and told him to drive into town to collect the vehicle documents, i.e. insurance and permit papers which he alleged had left at Number 5 Glade Flat some four kilometres away. He returned around 1625 hours and only produced the Temporary Import Permit (T.I.P.),which the team noted had expired on the 28 October 2002. They demanded for the vehicle insurance which he could not produce. He also could not explain why he was producing an expired Temporary Issue Permit which was date stamped 4 November 1998 (normally a T.I.P. is for 30 days). The team having noted the above irregularities then advised the deceased that they were going to take his vehicle to customs for clearance. The deceased became hostile and uncooperative with the team. He started to close his windows and took off at a high speed. He drove towards the two officers who were in front of his car who jumped off the road for safety. Having noticed that the deceased was driving away and had nearly knocked down the two officers, Private SHERENI number 807687 V of the Zimbabwe National Army who was on the side of the road fired towards the vehicle. Two bullet holes were noted on the vehicle. One hit the left rear wheel and went through to hit the left rear and front doors. The second bullet went through the rear number plate perforating through the middle of the rear seat to the driver's seat just below the headrest and possibly hitting the driver. The bullet was found stuck on the windscreen just above the dashboard on the extreme right. The vehicle then stopped and officers rushed to the scene. They discovered that the deceased had been injured and they immediately summoned for an ambulance. (One of the members used his cell phone). The shooting took place at 1630 hours as per report from the team. The ambulance arrived at 1645 as per ambulance driver's record. He left the scene at 1650 hours arriving at the Seventh Avenue Surgical Unit (SASU) at 1715 hours, as per hospital records. The ambulance blamed his delay to none availability of a siren. He passed away at 2000 hours in the hospital. Soon after the evacuation of the deceased from the scene, Sergeant Machinguta checked for valuables from his car and recovered $150 000.00 (Zimbabwean currency and R220) (Rands) in envelopes in the dashboard pocket. Addresses found on him were as follows: Passport Number 153964494 (American) Number 31 Westledge Drive Torington CT - USA Number 5 Green Glade Flat Hardy Crescent Murambi - Mutare Registered owner of vehicle: Number MHV 655 GP Toyota Corolla - white Tony's Car Hire Number 33 Stagemann Avenue Terenure - Campton Park South Africa His business card address: African Child's Fund in Zimbabwe with his U.S.A. address given above, Same was staying with his brother Howard Gilman at Number 5 Green Glade Flat. Information from his brother is that he was in Zimbabwe to carry out charity business in schools. He gave out that he had arrived two weeks ago and this was his third time to visit Zimbabwe. He indicated that Gilman had interest in children and had donated some books worth $2 million to Chishakwe School in Mutare. He is also said to have sponsored food to Bvumbunu School in Mutasa District and was working on electrification of the school. He is reported to have used about $8 million. (This information is not yet verified). The two AK bullet spent cartridges and one bullet bead were recovered. Mutare Central had opened an Attempted Murder docket against the deceased for trying to run over the officers. The deceased had a temporary South African resident permit expiring on 22 January 2003. The body has been referred to Harare Hospital for postmortem Z R Police General Headquarters 14 November 2002 SULLIVAN