Kelvoughn Niles, who was on Wednesday charged with unlawfully assaulting two police corporals and resisting arrest on Easter Monday, told the court that he was a victim of police brutality.
Niles, 23, of 132 Last Field, Sophia, appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he answered four charges—two for assault and one for disorderly behaviour and another for resisting arrest. He initially pleaded “guilty with explanation” but later changed his plea to not guilty.
Magistrate Hamilton fixed bail in the sum of $25,000 for all four charges and adjourned the matter to June 9 for report and fixture.
Police Corporal Venetta Pindar, prosecuting, told the court that on Easter Monday, in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market area, one of the police corporals was in the area when he heard the defendant using a series of expletives in a loud manner. The police approached Niles and cautioned him about his behaviour but the defendant continued. The police officer then attempted to arrest the accused when he resisted, “chucking” him in the process, the court heard. Seeing this, another police corporal intervened and rendered assistance, which allegedly resulted in Niles assaulting them both. The two officers subsequently managed to arrest him and they took him to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was charged for the offences.
Niles, however, said that police assaulted him, and he told the court that the officers used a gun to hit him in the head and face.
