A police officer was yesterday charged with the attempted murder of an alleged abuser, who he was called to subdue for an arrest.
The court heard that on August 5, at Itaballi Landing, Essequibo, Lyndon Thompson, 25, of Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara with intent to commit murder, discharged a loaded firearm at Sean Williams. Thompson, a Constable in the Guyana Police Force pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by Magistrate Leron Daly.
According to Thompson’s lawyer Linden Amsterdam, on the day in question his client was attempting to effect an arrest when his gun went off and the bullet hit Williams.
Amsterdam said the officer had received reports from a woman who was attached to the virtual complainant that he was abusing her. The attorney said that when Thompson went to the home he and other public-spirited persons tried to restrain Williams, who was about to hit the woman. Williams resisted and the officer’s gun went off, Amsterdam claimed. The lawyer said that after the incident his client was placed on close arrest and he should be granted bail.
Police Prosecutor Kevin London had no objection to Thompson being placed on bail. However he asked that the accused surrender his passport.
The magistrate later placed Thompson on $150,000 bail. She also added conditions that he surrenders his passport to the court and makes a report to F Division every Monday.
The case was adjourned until September 14, when it will be called at Court 1.
It was reported that the 26-year-old Williams called ‘Sunny’ of Itaballi, Region Seven was shot in his back after he reportedly resisted being handcuffed. He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the same evening. The policeman had escaped but was later apprehended.
