Attorney Nigel Hughes has formally made a request to the police to postpone the post-mortem examination of the three men who were shot by police during the recent protest at Linden as an international pathologist has expressed his willingness to help.
Hughes, who is representing the relatives of the slain men made the request last evening to Assistant Commissioner Gavin Primo shortly after two reports of murder and one report of attempted murder were filed at the Mackenzie Police Station.
The attorney told this newspaper via telephone from Linden that he formally informed Primo who is the Office in Charge of Linden that an international pathologist had expressed an interest in the case. Hughes said that in the light of this, he requested that the post mortem be postponed until Wednesday. Primo, he said, indicated that he “will get back to me”.
Hughes said the discourse between himself and Primo was done in the presence of the men’s relatives.
He declined to name the pathologist.
Earlier, a distraught Margaret, the mother of Ron Somerset of Wisroc Park, related to Stabroek News that she made a report of murder at the Mackenzie Police Station since she wanted justice for her son who was just 18 years old. “I am in grief. I can’t sleep and I am just crying every time I see his picture,” the woman said stressing that she and her son had a very close relationship.
She said that she last saw him on July 16 when he left for home, although she advised him not to go because of the tension that was building up in the community. They had travelled to Georgetown earlier in the month. She recalled that as they parted ways, he thanked her for all that she had done for him.
Maggie, as she is called, stated that the teen insisted that he had to go to Linden since his friend kept calling him and as such he wanted to go. She said that as she hugged her son and bid him goodbye she cautioned him to remain indoors.
She said she called him the following she he told her that everything was quiet in the town. She recalled that on the day of the shooting she kept calling the house phone but got no response. She called Somerset’s cellular phone but it went straight to voicemail, she said.
She said that at this point she was not worried and kept telling herself that “perhaps the problems start” and he just turned off his cell phone so she would not worry.
However, later, it was her son-in-law who called with the dreaded news that the last of her seven children was shot by police and was dead. She said she did not believe but persons kept calling with the same information.
Maggie noted that Somerset’s father, who is in the United States, is slated to arrive in the country. The teen would have been migrating in December.
She recalled that she cried that entire night. At the time she was staying in Corentyne and getting transportation to take her to Linden was difficult. She said that the two other men who were killed were known to her and she lamented that she along with their families need justice.
Later, Clyde Lewis, the brother of Allan Lewis of Wismar Housing Scheme, also cried out for justice. He said that his 46-year-old brother had two children. He said he saw his remains the day after the incident and his brother’s back was covered in blood.
The man said, “to shoot he in his back was wrong” before questioning how the police could have used live rounds on protestors. Clyde said that he is very upset about the manner in which his brother met his death.
The two bodies along with that of Shemroy Bouyea of Wisroc Housing Scheme were transported to the city on Friday via helicopter. The men were killed on Wednesday after police opened fire at the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge. Police have said that they opened fire after missiles were hurled at them, but protestors and others have disputed this. The men’s bodies are currently being stored at the Lyken’s Funeral Home in the city awaiting PMEs, which will be crucial in the full investigation that has been committed to by government.
Meanwhile, Myrtleen Scotland said that she visited the station to make a report of attempted murder of her son Dexter Scotland who remains warded at the Linden Hospital Complex after being shot in the face.
The woman said that from all indications a pellet made its way into his nose resulting in serious damage there.
“That was a peaceful protest. Nobody ain’t had no guns,” the woman pointed out noting that the police had no reason to throw tear gas much less discharge rounds. “I feel that wasn’t right and I want justice,” Myrtleen stressed.
The woman maintained that the police ought to have used a different method to disperse the protestors she said that during the day the police made no attempt to disperse them but came later in the day when the elderly, women and children had gathered, with tear gas.
The woman stated that days have passed since the incident and a government representative is yet to come to the mining town to hear their views.
She said that the protest action will continue until they see changes.
Her son is a 38-year-old father of two and a resident of Victory Valley.
