Over six months after he accidentally shot a young woman during a visit to her home in Albouystown, Police Constable Dwayne Charles was charged yesterday.
Charles, 25, was charged with maliciously woundingly Shaqueena Anderson on April 22, to which he pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Judy Latchman subsequently set bail for him at $150,000, with conditions attached.
According to the prosecution, on the day of the shooting, Charles and other constables were invited to use Anderson’s washroom at her Lot 31 Albouys Street, Albouystown residence.
The court heard that Charles, who went into the washroom, handed over his firearm for safekeeping to another constable. However, when Charles exited the washroom, he found his colleague emptying the live rounds from his gun, which then prompted him to take the gun back. Upon taking back the gun, Charles, who thought the gun had no ammunition, is alleged to have accidentally shot Anderson to her body. The constables quickly rendered assistance to Anderson, who was taken to a city hospital.
The colleague who had reportedly removed some of the ammunition from the gun was subsequently charged departmentally by the Guyana Police Force.
Magistrate Latchman, in allowing Charles his release on bail, ordered that he report to a court clerk every Monday, pending the outcome of the matter, and that he have no communication with Anderson. Charles was ordered to return to court today for statements.
