Dellon Abrams, the prisoner accused of the fatal shooting of Police Detective Corporal Seburn Elias during a brief escape on Monday, was charged with the lawman’s murder yesterday.
Abrams, 23, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was remanded to prison after his arraignment in the city court of Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who heard that he shot the policeman after being asked to hand over the service revolver he stole during his escape.
According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, who read the police’s allegations against Abrams, the prisoner was arrested by Corporal Ramdat at the Sophia Police Station for an alleged break and enter and larceny offence.
The court was told that Abrams received a beating from public-spirited citizens before he was arrested by Corporal Ramdat. He was subsequently taken to the Sophia Health Centre, from where he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for an x-ray and medical treatment.
Abrams was escorted to the GPH by Corporal Ramdat and other ranks, including Constable Green, who was armed with a .38 service revolver.
The court heard that after accused made a request to use the washroom, he was escorted by Green with both hands cuffed. After a short while, Mangru explained, Abrams rushed out the washroom with the handcuffs on one hand only. A scuffle ensued between Green and Abrams, who managed to dis-arm the lawman of his firearm and made good his escape, after which an alarm was raised by Green.
Later, according to Mangru, a party of policemen conducted a search in the Alberttown area, where Elias saw Abrams stooping under a step with the gun he took from Green in his hands.
Mangru added that Elias asked Abrams to hand over the weapon but Abrams then aimed the gun at Elias and discharged several rounds. Elias was subsequently rushed to the GPH where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police are also contending that another officer on the scene, ASP Taylor, discharged four rounds from his AK-47 riffle in response to Abrams. Mangru said that a post-mortem examination was conducted and a warhead from the stolen .38 revolver was retrieved from the body of Elias. He added that the accused was arrested and under caution admitted that he discharged the rounds, hence the charge.
Abrams was remanded to prison until March 3. The police are still conducting investigations into the matter.
