Family members of Special Lance Corporal Don Carlos Alleyne, who succumbed to injuries at a city hospital last Saturday, are calling for answers as to what exactly transpired in the lead up to his death.
Alleyne, 25, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday afternoon, after he was allegedly beaten by another rank while he was stationed at the Special Constabulary Headquarters, Princes Street, Wortmanville.
When Stabroek News made a visit to Alleyne’s Industrial Site Squatting Area home, family members were still in shock and calling for justice.
According to Alleyne’s aunt, Ruby Freeman, family members did not find out about his death until three days after.
Freeman told Stabroek News that she initially found out after she got a phone call from someone who enquired as to why she had not informed them of Alleyne’s death. “My child father call me and ask me why I didn’t tell he Carlos dead. I said I ain’t hear that Carlos dead and then he tell me that he heard one of the inspectors talking, so he call me to find out if is me nephew they talking bout,” Freeman related.
She further added that she had to break the news to her mother (Carlos’ grandmother) and other family members. “I meet up with my mother and I tell she that Carlos dead since Saturday and is only today we know that— that is Tuesday, and nobody didn’t know,” she added.
Another aunt, Dinetta Moore, chimed in and stated that they went to the hospital’s mortuary and enquired whether his body was there. “When we go and look at the body, we see marks of violence; he face black and blue and swell up, all inside he hands black and blue like they beat he,” Moore said.
According to a post-mortem examination, which was seen by Stabroek News, the inspection revealed that Alleyne died as a result of blunt trauma to the brain and haemorrhaging of the brain. Freeman added that they had heard nothing from the police or his colleagues in relation to his death before or even after they found out.
Jocelyn Ambrose, Alleyne’s mother, stated that they had heard that he was beaten by other senior ranks following an argument. Freeman further stated that she received information that he was beaten by the other ranks and was left in a room by himself. “I hear they beat he and when they done they lock he up in a room and after, he keep begging them and crying and pleading that he want to go at the hospital, that’s how come they loose he to go out at the hospital. I want justice for me nephew, cause all of them know wah go on at duh place,” she added.
Accompanied
She later said that they found out that he was not taken to the hospital or accompanied by any of his colleagues, as hospital staff informed them that he showed up to Accident and Emergency by himself.
Ambrose believes that her son was beaten by more than one officer and said “the only way he would represent he self is if you knock he and one person wouldn’t have beat he, cause he would have fight back”.
Freeman went on to say that when she contacted other officers who might have been there at the time, she was told that the argument started over Alleyne conversing with one of his friends at the precinct. “They said he bring in a friend fuh gyaff with and he and he friend sit down talking and one of he colleagues come and say how he can’t got he friend in there and he turn and say I just gyaffing with he, is my friend, and all of y’all does bring in y’all people so why I can’t gyaff with my friend?” she related. According to her, after that exchange, an argument ensued, which escalated and other officers came and joined the fight.
Ambrose added that she believes that anyone who was involved in the incident would have suffered an injury of some sort and that would be the person who should be the main suspect in the investigation. She then added that she was called to give statements to the police, but has not heard anything else in relation to the matter.
Alleyne’s grandmother, Brenda Clarke, described her grandson as a fun and happy individual, who loved to make people laugh and loved singing for them. Clarke became emotional as she spoke about how the 25-year-old would serenade her and his mother for their birthdays and Mother’s Day.
Ambrose stated that her son had always wanted to become a police officer and it is hard for the family to know that the injuries that led to his death were inflicted on him by one of his colleagues.
Alleyne’s relatives said that they would continue to press for justice until the persons responsible for his death face the law.
Previous reports indicated that the police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances under which Alleyne died.
In a press release, Police Public Relations Officer, Jairam Ramlakhan, said that Alleyne was taken to the hospital after he reportedly complained of feeling unwell following an incident at the Special Constabulary headquarters. The release added that he succumbed around 2.52 pm while receiving medical treatment.
