The relatives of Ryan Couchman say that there are more questions than answers surrounding the circumstances under which he was shot dead by an off duty policeman several weeks ago and more so that eyewitness accounts rubbish the story presented by the police.
For them, Couchman would not have committed an armed robbery as he was financially settled. They feel that he is being branded a criminal by the police because of previous matters before the court and to cover up for the policeman who reportedly pulled the trigger.
His brother Roy believes that the killing is unjustified and he called on all Guyana to rally with him not only for Couchman’s death but all the young men who have been slain and could be slain by a bullet from a policeman’s gun.
He said that his brother was mowed down “like a dog” while the policeman is allowed to continue on with his life and they grieve and search for answers. In the meantime, he said the police have displayed no interest in getting to the bottom of the matter.
“He was savagely murdered by a lawman who swore to uphold the law…He was rehabilitating his life. He was accused wrongly and discriminated against. He did not deserve this,” the man who was close to tears said.
Police officials have since told this newspaper that the matter is still under investigation and so far there is nothing to show that the police rank committed any wrongdoing.
Roy recalled that following the January 4 incident he attempted to get information from the divisional commander but he was unavailable. He said he left his contact information but he is yet to receive a call.
He said that he has left a document which outlines all the facts, pleas and questions he and his other relatives including his mother and Couchman’s wife and children have about his death at the offices of the Police Complaints Authority, the Commissioner of Police, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but he is yet to get a response.
Roy told this newspaper that he is not at all surprised by the lack of response by those in authority and given how things have gone, he doubts he and his relatives will ever get justice.
He said that to date none of them know the identity of the shooter. He said he was told that the rank has resumed duty and if this is indeed so then there should be public outrage.
According to Roy, subsequent to the shooting they revisited the scene and after speaking to persons they are convinced the shooting did not occur like the police have described it. “It was nothing of the sort. We are hearing a whole different story,” he stressed while adding that based on his information his brother played no part in any robbery.
Doesn’t mesh
Insisting that the story given by police “doesn’t mesh”, he said the incident started at a swimming resort on the highway and ended tragically at the Soesdyke junction. He said based on what they were told the policeman was involved in an altercation at the resort and Couchman managed to defuse it. He also questioned why Couchman would attempt to rob the policeman when his vehicle was “boxed in”. The shooting occurred about 140 feet from where Couchman had parked his vehicle. A car had parked behind it making it impossible for the car to reverse unless the other car was moved.
Relatives have since said that eyewitnesses at the scene claimed that there was an argument which ended in the fatal shooting, and vehemently denied there was any robbery attempt.
In a statement, the police said investigations were being conducted into an incident that occurred at about 7 pm in which an armed policeman in plain clothes was attacked and robbed of his gold jewellery by three men at Soesdyke.
“During the robbery the policeman, who was being repeatedly assaulted by the perpetrators, discharged a round which fatally wounded one of the men” who has since been identified as Couchman, the police said. The two accomplices managed to escape.
The statement said that the injured policeman was taken for medical treatment at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
Police had also said that Couchman, a 34-year-old resident of Lot 1360 18th Street, Diamond was known to them and had been previously charged on a number of occasions with robbery under arms.
Roy while speaking to Stabroek News acknowledged that his brother had matters before the court but at the time of his killing all had ended, save for one in which he was accused of chopping a man.
“He killed a ‘known convict’ according to them [the police] who was committing a crime and that is the end of it. He [the rank] stood as judge, jury and executioner. It is distasteful. It is heartbreaking that something like this can happen. I am afraid for other young men,” he stressed.
He said he is prepared to take the streets to protest this injustice.
Roy also questioned why it was that his brother was shot in the region of his heart as opposed to a warning shot being fired or him being wounded in his leg, hand or shoulder.
“Why do we spend the state’s money training these people? He shows poor tactical capability. What sort of behaviour is that?” he said.
He said too that his brother’s two young sons age 3 and 14 years have been psychologically affected by their father’s death.
Relatives say that Couchman was a shareholder of the Couchman Mining Company for approximately five years now and was the owner of a 2007 pearl white Toyota Allion which was recently purchased from proceeds of the mining operations in the interior. They said that in this regard he had no reason to steal.
According to them, Couchman was “medically and officially” paralyzed on his left hand from the shoulder down to his fingertips. In this regard they said it was highly impossible for him to attempt to commit a robbery while holding a broken bottle at the same time.
The relatives say that all they need is answers to their many questions. They questioned what protocols, if any, are in place before a member of the Guyana Police Force can shoot someone fatally in the chest. They questioned the whereabouts of Couchman’s jersery and the bullet which was removed from his body. Ballistic testing and the swabbing of policeman’s hands are among some of the many queries they have as they are not certain either of these things were done.
They questioned why no statements were taken from Couchman’s friends who were with him. They said too that they informed the police that a female occupant of Couchman’s car was shot in her hip and was treated at a private hospital.
They questioned why this information was not acted upon and why no efforts were made to solicit a statement from her.
According to the relatives, Couchman’s terrible death requires a thorough investigation. They appealed to eyewitnesses to come forward and provide written accounts of what transpired so as to ensure that questions are answered and that justice can be served.
