One of the men who was reported to have recently been beaten and then shot at afterward in the parking lot of the Pegasus Hotel is being accused of committing a sexual assault, which led to the altercation.
However, a frustrated Crystal Lawrie, who says her brother and boyfriend were badly beaten at a Halloween party at the venue, is claiming that the allegation that her brother pinched a woman’s behind was never made before.
She said her brother has since denied the allegation.
Lawrie had previously told Stabroek News that that the attack had been triggered by someone accidentally touching a young lady’s bottom.
According to her, she and her brother were on Monday invited to the Brickdam Police Station for a “confrontation.” Later, six persons, all children of well-known businesspeople, turned up in the company of a lawyer.
Lawrie said while she and her brother had to give the police statements a second time, the six persons were allowed to submit statements which had been prepared prior to their arrival at the police station.
The woman said it would appear that the tables have been turned to make her brother look like an accused rather than a victim. She said too that there is no talk about an investigation of the shooting and she expressed worry that all efforts are being made to sweep it under the carpet.
Stabroek News was told that during the confrontation there were clear attempts by the lawyer to intimidate Lawrie’s brother.
The detective who is handling the case has since said that he would be preparing a file on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on charges.
Lawrie and her family have since retained a lawyer to watch their interests as they fear that they are being unfairly treated. A frustrated Lawrie had told Stabroek News that the assault and shooting are being covered-up.
She recalled that she and her friends were partying when her boyfriend and brother arrived to pick them up sometime around 2 am. However, they were not ready, so a decision was made that they would stay and call for pick up when they were ready. Her boyfriend and brother then left.
Shortly afterwards, Lawrie said she saw two men dragging someone near the stage, but because the area was poorly lit she could not see who it was. She said she later recognised her brother’s shirt and on venturing closer, saw a man holding him. When she intervened, she said, she was punched.
At that point, Lawrie said, she started looking for her boyfriend, as she knew he was supposed to be with her brother. She said two men held her brother and threw him onto a trolley, which was laden with glasses. Security intervened at this stage, according to Lawrie, and the lights were turned on. It was then that she saw three men stomping her boyfriend in the chest. The security then halted the beating and instructed everyone to leave.
In the lobby, she said, they encountered a group of persons, one of whom shouted out, “This ain’t gun done here.” She said that one of her brother’s eyes was badly swollen and given the other injuries he sustained, he collapsed.
Later, she said, as she neared her car, which was in the parking lot, she heard two gunshots. She said she believed the shots were fired from a light coloured vehicle, which was parked just outside the entrance to the hotel.
She said that persons dropped to the ground and others ran for cover.
Lawrie took her injured brother to the hospital for medical attention and later took her boyfriend back to the hotel, where he was staying.
