The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that the suspect in the killing of D’Urban Street resident Shawn Nelson be charged with murder, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News last evening.
Persaud said that the suspect will be charged with the capital offence today.
This newspaper was told that the advice was given late yesterday afternoon after a police rank had taken the file to the DPP’s Chambers. He waited on the DPP to give her advice before leaving.
Persaud had told Stabroek News earlier in that day that the police were heading to the DPP with the file having spoken to her earlier in the day.
Sources have told Stabroek News that being armed with the surveillance footage police have a strong case but were just trying to be cautious by seeking advice.
Meanwhile, Nelson’s relatives yesterday said that the Post-Mortem Examination (PME) carried out on the man determined that he died from a gunshot wound to the head. They said that the bullet caused serious damage.
Nelson, 39, was gunned down early Sunday morning by a man who relatives say was a close family friend. Though initial reports of the shooting painted a vague picture of what transpired, surveillance footage suggests that Nelson was intentionally shot by the gunman who then fled the scene in a white Toyota 212 but somehow crashed it several times. The suspect was detained later that day when he turned himself in to police.
Concerns have also arisen over the manner in which the injured Nelson was handled after the shooting.
Footage seen by Stabroek News revealed that Nelson’s shooter was not in his car as Nelson was passing. In the video, Nelson is seen moving north along Orange Walk while his assailant is seen approaching from the north. The white car, which was described by eyewitnesses, was parked on the western side of Orange Walk, in the vicinity of Sweet Point.
In the video, as Nelson passes the white car on the passenger side, his assailant then approached the driver side of the car. As the two men, who were then on opposite sides of the car, got closer, Nelson’s assailant pulled out and “cocked” his gun before discharging a round in his direction.
Nelson, who fell to the ground after sustaining the gunshot, was left to bleed out by his assailant, who drove off subsequent to the shooting.
Passersby and patrons of Sweet Point were seen congregating around Nelson’s body after his shooter fled the scene. It was several minutes before anyone attempted to help him and several persons were seen taking photographs and videos of the injured man with their phones.
One such person was even seen adjusting the injured man’s head to get a better shot of his face.
Another man was seen rummaging through Nelson’s pockets as the man lay injured and helpless on the road for several minutes.
Another business owner, who operates an establishment in the area, said she was preparing to start the day when she heard a noise. The woman said that she later realised the noise was a gunshot, and noticed that a man was lying on the road. The woman said several persons who converged on the scene of the shooting proceeded to take photos and videos as opposed to trying to help him.
