Police Constable #2045 Winston Cooper, the Presidential Guard who succumbed at a city hospital on Wednesday, more than a month after he was found lying on Mandela Avenue with serious wounds to his head, died as a result of complications from his injuries.
This is according to the finding of the autopsy, which was conducted yesterday morning by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan yesterday confirmed the finding.
Cooper, a resident of Lot 761 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) early on Wednesday morning.
He reportedly succumbed shortly after relatives rushed him to the hospital after noticing that he was experiencing problems breathing.
The police had said that Cooper was rushed to the hospital on July 1st after he was discovered lying in an unconscious condition opposite the National Gymnasium around 5.30 am by first responders of the Guyana Fire Service.
He spent approximately three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he remained unconscious and was later transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) before being discharged on August 6th.
Earlier this week, a relative of Cooper had told Stabroek News that he was at home recuperating.
President David Granger has since called for an inquiry into Cooper’s death.
The President made the call on Wednesday during a visit at Cooper’s home, where he met and interacted with Cooper’s relatives including his mother Loraine Peters.
He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.
Stabroek News had previously reported that investigators were trying to determine what caused Cooper to sustain the wounds to his head.
Investigators had obtained surveillance footage from around the area which they were trying to enhance. However, the outcome of this remains unknown.
Cooper’s aunt had previously related to this newspaper that she believed that he was attacked by a gang while on his way to work.
She had said that her conclusion was made based on a doctor’s reports and the injuries her nephew sustained.
On Thursday, a team of officers, including Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston, Traffic Chief Linden Isles, Traffic Officer ‘A’ Division, Dennis Stephens and Divisional Detective Officer ‘A’ Division, Chabbinauth Singh also visited Peters at her home.
During the visit, Kingston promised that a thorough investigation of Cooper’s death.
