Barker’s mother when contacted recently opined that saying anything on the matter would be pointless. The woman said the incident is still fresh in her mind, but it seemed that the investigation into her son’s killing has been concluded. Asked if in the light of this disclosure by Police Commissioner Henry Greene, the family intended to pursue the case to ensure justice was served, she replied that it wouldn’t make any sense to do so.
Meanwhile, Donna Aaron, Caesar’s mother said she was surprised when she saw the article in the Stabroek News, and added that “God will be the judge”.
Aaron said that it was even more hurtful because the day it was published was Barker’s birthday and the article brought back memories.
She said the police’s story that the two were armed is not believable. “What can we do?”
The woman, while expressing regret that Barker was killed, said she is thankful that her son is alive.
“This thing get me outraged… I even saw him [the policeman] at a football match and like he had body guards,” Aaron added.
She again reiterated that the two could not have been at fault, since the post-mortem examination revealed that they were shot in their backs.
Last week Commissioner Greene told Stabroek News that no disciplinary action would be taken against the policeman since he was defending himself after being attacked. This was determined after an investigation was conducted, he said. He added that the investigation also revealed that the rank, “a young inspector of police,” used his service weapon and at the time of the incident was not working at the spot but rather socialising. Initial reports were that the rank was moonlighting as a bouncer.
The rank involved in the shooting is Greene’s personal assistant–a fact the commissioner acknowledged.
The day after the December 19 incident, police said that the two men pulled firearms and a round was discharged at the policeman who returned fire. Relatives of the men disputed this and called on the police to produce the guns.
Commenting on this, Greene had said that some of the men ran away after the shooting, including the ones who had the guns. He said that he was not sure if different types of spent shells were found at the scene.
From all accounts, a party was being held at the bar but because of a poor turnout, the promoter decided to have an open bar. Around 1.30 am, a young man entered the premises with a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and was told that he could not enter with it. This apparently angered the man who started using foul language, which later evolved into a scuffle outside the premises.
Police later said that the off duty rank was in the area when he observed a group of men arguing and behaving disorderly.
The policeman approached the group to warn them about their behaviour but one of the men pushed him aside and then ran away.
This man would have been the one who had earlier attempted to enter the bar with the alcoholic beverage.
The man returned shortly after accompanied by Barker and Caesar and they assaulted the policeman, although he identified himself as a member of the Guyana Police Force. During the confrontation, two of the men pulled firearms and fired at the policeman who returned fire, fatally wounding Barker and injuring Caesar, the police said. The other man managed to escape.
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Cecil Kennard has since ordered that an inquest be held into Barker’s death.
