The businessman at the centre of the Veronica Atherley shooting has still not been charged, while the file languishes in the office of the Director of Public Prosecu-tions (DPP) but Crime Chief Seelall Persaud says sending it for advice is standard procedure.
Persaud explained that it is the normal practice for matters that are related to indictable crimes to be forwarded to the DPP, but there are instances where this cannot be done immediately.
He explained that when people are in custody and subsequently charged, the file will be forwarded to the DPP for advice at a later date.
Meanwhile, the woman’s family told this newspaper that while they are trying to cope with her untimely death they preferred to be compensated and would await the advice of the DPP before engaging in discussions with the shooter, who is said to be a money changer operating on Water Street.
The file was sent to the DPP’s office several weeks ago.
Speaking to this newspaper on Friday evening, the woman’s husband Martin Atherley said that from the beginning, the shooter’s family informed them that they would like to settle the matter.
However when the matter was sent to the DPP, he said, their lawyers advised them to await that decision before proceeding any further. He said they have accepted that and are prepared to wait because it was an accidental death.
“It was an accident. It was not a willful act…,” he said adding that the man’s relatives have been keeping in contact with them since the incident.
He pointed out that they preferred to have the matter settled since passing the shooter through court would not bring Atherley, a newspaper vendor, back and it would be a lengthy process.
Observers had pointed out that there are many instances where persons are shot and once the shooter is identified charges are laid almost immediately. One such case was the gymnasium shooting for which Fish Shop owner Jermaine Langevine was charged although he was hospitalized in a serious condition.
Legal sources this newspaper spoke to said that though the shooter is a licensed firearm holder he ought to have been charged at least with manslaughter, as he was wrong to shoot behind the fleeing bandits in such a crowded area.
Observers had questioned what the man’s choices were if he was being robbed; whether he should have allowed the thieves to get away, raise an alarm or fire behind him as he had done that day.
Following the incident, the shooter was released on station bail and his firearm seized.
He was also required to report to the police on a regular basis.
On August 29, Atherley, 59, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara was taken to the Georgetown Hospital after being shot in the hip by the licensed firearm holder.
At the time the woman had been plying her trade in the busy Stabroek Market area.
According to reports on the said day, around 5.30 pm two men had attempted to rob the businessman and were fleeing when the man opened fire on them, hitting the vendor. The shooter then reportedly attempted to flee after he realized that he had shot the woman but several persons pursued and apprehended him. He was then handed over to the police.
Atherley was initially admitted as a patient in the hospital’s female surgical ward but was subsequently moved to the Intensive Care Unit after her condition worsened. She succumbed on September 4.
Shortly after her death, the woman’s relatives had expressed displeasure at the care she received at the institution and had opined that she should have been moved earlier to the ICU since she had lost a lot of blood making her condition serious.