The police file on the accidental shooting of Jean Rodrigues, the woman wounded by a rank in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market, was returned to investigators for them to provide clarity on some parts of their work, according to Crime Chief (ag) Hugh Jessemy.
Jessemy yesterday told Stabroek News that the file was sent to the police force’s legal advisor but was returned with the request that they provide clarity on the investigation.
He went on to say the file would be returned for advice once the additional work is completed.
Rodrigues, 54, of 35 Crane, West Coast Demerara, was shot in September during what police had initially said was crossfire between a rank and a fleeing robbery suspect.
The family of Rodrigues have said they are waiting for justice to be served and have made several inquiries on the matter but were told it is still being investigated.
Rodrigues’ daughter, Keitha Persaud, had said that they were standing at the Timehri Bus Park, where they were waiting on a bus, when her mother told her that she felt a sting on her back.
The woman said when she and her sister checked, it was discovered that the woman had been shot. “We were sitting [at] Timehri Park there and the police was running and shooting behind a guy and end up shooting her in her back,” Persaud claimed.
Persaud added that she rushed her mother to the hospital via a taxi after realising that she had been shot.
After the suspect surrendered to police, a ballistics examination cleared him of firing a weapon.
His mother later called on the police to come forward and clear his name, while saying he had just been a bystander who started to run after police chased after him.
“The police start running behind he and they didn’t even know why he de running,” she said, before adding that the police then opened fire on him.
