A Police Sergeant has been remanded to prison after being charged over a shooting incident that resulted in a gold miner’s leg being amputated.
David Lall appeared before Magistrate Tamika Clarke at the Friendship Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he faced two charges, including discharging a loaded firearm with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm to 37-year-old gold miner Carlos Trotman.
The charges stem from an incident that allegedly took place on April 12, 2026, at Chanta Creek along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Initial police reports had stated that Lall was liming and consuming alcohol with relatives at the creek when a confrontation reportedly arose with several men. The officer claimed he was attacked with a cutlass, causing him to draw his service-issued Glock 9mm pistol and fire a round in their direction.
Trotman was subsequently taken to the McKenzie Hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. At the time, police had said his condition was stable and that he was expected to undergo emergency surgery.
However, Trotman later put forward a different version of events through his lawyer, Samuel Glasgow.
According to Trotman, a dispute broke out between Lall’s family and another family at a resort he owns, during which he alleged that racial slurs were directed at patrons by Lall and his wife.
Trotman said he intervened in his capacity as the owner of the establishment and urged those involved to avoid escalating the situation. He further alleged that Lall then threatened him with a firearm, prompting him to call the police and report that the officer was armed and appeared intoxicated.
He also claimed that although police ranks turned up at the scene, Lall was not disarmed or arrested because he was a fellow officer.
Trotman further alleged that after he left the resort, Lall stopped his vehicle, got out, and fired two shots in his direction, one of which struck him in the knee.
He also claimed that after he fell, Lall stood over him and tried to fire another shot, but the firearm malfunctioned. As a result of the injuries he sustained, Trotman later underwent an amputation of his left leg.
Following the hearing, Magistrate Clarke refused bail and remanded Lall to prison. The matter was adjourned to July 8, 2026, for disclosure of statements. Lall is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Stacey Gooding.
Meanwhile, Lall’s wife has also been charged in relation to the incident for allegedly assaulting Trotman. She was granted bail and is expected to return to court on the same date.
Trotman and his family are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Samuel Glasgow.
