Post-mortem examinations on the bodies of the two Kato-based policemen, found murdered on Tuesday, have found that they both died of gunshot injuries.
Police yesterday continued attempts to piece together what led to their grisly deaths, even as the force was finalising arrangements to give Constables Marlon Letlow, 27, and Leadon Aaron, 25, full military-style burials.
According to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, Letlow and Aaron died as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot wounds. Stabroek News was reliably informed that Aaron was shot in the head while Letlow was shot in the lower back, shoulder and foot.
Aaron, who was strapped to a tree trunk, was also badly burnt and based on the information from police officials, he was apparently tortured before he was shot dead. The tree trunk was still smoking when police reached the scene.
Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that there is no new information about what might have lead to their deaths, while noting that the team of investigators who flew into the area on Wednesday has not returned.
Because of the remoteness of the area, communication can sometimes be difficult. The ranks at Kato Police Station would make contact with the headquarters in the city via radio.
Asked about whether ranks of the division are equipped with radios when going on patrols, he responded that the radios that are available do not work in certain areas and most of the time, ranks would get assistance from miners.
Persaud also said that ranks ought to be dressed in their police uniform when on patrol duties and as far as he is aware Letlow was not in his uniform when he was found on Wednesday.
Based on the information released by a police official, it was a Brazilian man who reported that he found an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) overturned on a trail in the Paramakatoi, North Pakaraimas area with its headlights still one. He is also said to have reported that he saw signs of blood on the vehicle but did not see anyone. This was on Tuesday around 10 pm.
Asked about this yesterday Persaud clarified that this person never made a report to the police. “We don’t know who he is,” he said, explaining that it was someone who reported that that person had given them that information.
Meanwhile, relatives of both men told this newspaper that they will be given military-style funerals. Letlow’s aunt, Samantha Allen, told Stabroek News that his body bore many pellets. She said that the last she heard from the police was that the police investigations were still ongoing.
Letlow, a father of one, will be laid to rest next Wednesday.
Aaron’s aunt, Patricia Providence, also said that her family has not heard anything from the police. She said that he will be laid to rest next Tuesday.
Based on the information received by this newspaper yesterday, the ranks were killed sometime on Tuesday. Reports are they were seen sometime during daylight hours on Tuesday.
The police had said in a brief press release on Wednesday that investigations were being conducted into a report that on Sunday two police Constables left the Kato Police Station on an ATV on patrol duties and had not been heard from since. According to the release, information has also been received that the ATV has been seen “apparently with the headlamps on” along a trail in mountainous terrain in the Paramakatoi area, North Pakaraimas.
In a subsequent release, police said that the men’s bodies were found at Paramakatoi a short distance from each other.
Letlow’s gun was recovered along with eight rounds and eight spent shells, while Aaron’s was not found. A spent 12-gauge shotgun cartridge was found at the scene along with the ATV.
Police have received varying accounts about what happened to the ranks, including reports that they had committed a robbery.
Letlow was reinstated in the force on August 6 this year. He had been interdicted from duty after being charged following investigations into the robbery and murder of two gold miners at Bartica on September 05, 2010.
From all indications, there is no evidence that Aaron has a chequered past.
