Two months after Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank Mark George was shot in the back by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys, while on duty on Woolford Avenue, the Direc-tor of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that no charges be laid against the judicial officer.
The file was sent to the DPP for advice on possible charges weeks ago and when questioned yesterday about the status of that part of the case, Police Commissioner (ag) Henry Greene informed the media that he had just gotten word from Crime Chief Seelall Persaud that it has been recommended that there be no charges.
Greene was however quick to point out that he had not yet seen the file.
Asked if he was particularly concerned about that given the fact that a young policeman was injured, he stressed that he has to see what the DPP has written in the file before adding that he has to “see the whole concept in which the DPP made her decision”.
Questioned further on reports of a financial settlement in the case, the Commissioner pointed out that he was unaware of such a deal and that the file has nothing about a settlement being collected.
Following the shooting of George, many had raised concerns about the possibility of the matter dissolving. George’s relatives had told this newspaper that they were not concentrating on the investigation and what should happen to the magistrate but rather George’s recovery and discharge from the Georgetown Hospital.
Contacted last night on this latest development, his brother Alwin told Stabroek News that he has “thrown the incident behind my back. Once he is out of hospital, everything else is up to him”.
The man said that it is now up to his brother to make a decision in relation to the police and charges.
After several weeks of hospitalization, George was discharged from the hospital. He told this newspaper via telephone last evening that he is much better.
When told about the DPP’s decision, the man said that “I don put this matter behind my back”.
When asked about the reports of compensation being paid, George said “I am ok… I don’t like being a spectacle”.
On June 26, the rank and his colleagues were on patrol on Woolford Avenue when they noticed a vehicle with tinted windows parked on the roadway. The officers made checks and an argument ensued between them and the driver, who was later identified as Magistrate Gilhuys. It was at this point that the magistrate reportedly opened fire on the ranks, hitting George in the back. The bullet exited through his abdomen and in the process caused some internal damage.
The magistrate subsequently made a report at the Brickdam Police Station but he refused to hand over his weapon. However, he parked his vehicle which had about six bullet holes, in the station compound. The magistrate then appeared at the station the following day accompanied by his attorney Nigel Hughes, and after spending several hours, was released on self bail. He also lodged his weapon at the station.
Following the shooting, the magistrate had said that he was first shot at and that he returned fire.
Shortly after the shooting, the Magistrate proceeded on annual leave and has not returned to the bench.
Other magistrates are now handling his cases in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court as well as in the court in Linden.
