The Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force has completed its investigations into the high speed chase on December 30 last that ended in the deaths of three persons, including army intelligence officer Robert Pyle, according to Traffic Chief Dion Moore, who has signalled that legal advice is now being sought.
Moore made the revelation during a telephone interview with Stabroek News yesterday. He said that a file containing the information that was gathered by ranks during the investigation was dispatched to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) last Friday. “The file left for advice yesterday [Friday],” he said in response to a query from this newspaper as to the status of the investigation.
During an interview last week, Ministry of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had stated that the Traffic Department would be conducting an investigation given that lives were lost. He had said on that occasion that a statement was taken from Alana Seebarran, who was travelling in a vehicle which was being chased by a car driven by Pyle. Pyle later crashed head on into a truck, resulting in the deaths of him, his wife Stacy, who was travelling with him, and Linden Eastman. Eastman was the driver of the truck at the time of the crash. Seebarran managed to escape unhurt.
Ramjattan had said too that statements were to be taken from “some other car driver that was there” along with statements from other persons who were dealing directly with that exercise.”
Pyle, it has been revealed, was doing surveillance as part of a mission for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
Asked how many statements were taken, Moore, a Superintendent of Police could not give a number but stressed that “a lot” were taken during the course of the investigation.
According to what had been previously explained, a police investigation was necessary so as to enable a Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths. The process requires that an investigation is done, following which the matter is passed to the DPP, who would then order an inquest.
A Coroner’s Inquest is an inquiry into the cause and circumstances of an unnatural death. It is conducted by a Magistrate, who acts as a Coroner, and is heard by a jury with a minimum of three persons and no more than five
persons. A recent amendment to the Act allows now for a Justice of the Peace to be sworn in as a Coroner.
In the inquest, the Coroner reviews the statements of witnesses which are also heard by the jurors, who following deliberations at the end of the inquest determine if anyone is criminally liable for the death of the deceased. The determinations a jury makes include when the killing occurred, where it occurred, what caused the death and who, if anyone, is criminally liable.
If at the inquest anyone is found to be criminally liable, the file is sent within seven days to the chambers of the DPP for advice in the form of who is to be charged.
Notwithstanding the traffic investigation and the move towards a coroner’s inquest, there have been calls for an independent inquiry into deaths and the circumstances leading to them. The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) last week called on the government to mount an independent inquiry into the operation, even though President Granger had stated that he does not see the need for a full probe.
Pyle at the time believed Seebarran’s vehicle was occupied by the children of the Head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, who is being investigated by SOCU. Although the GDF has said Pyle was on a legitimate operation, his involvement has raised questions about the involvement of the army in the activities of SOCU, which is supposed to be a civilian law enforcement authority.
The GBA has said there is need for an explanation of the use of military officers in such activities.
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has since said that the Ministry of the Presidency needs to answer the legitimate political and legal questions raised by the failed operation that resulted in the deaths.
GHRA also said the botched operation raised many questions regarding the extent to which good governance principles appear to be eroding. “… [T]he multiple political and legal questions raised by the incident in question require a Parliamentary statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, referencing all the legitimate questions raised,” a statement from the human rights group said on Friday.
