As they continue their quest for justice, family members of Peter Headley, the robbery accused who was fatally shot by a policeman more than a week ago held a protest outside of the office of Commis-sioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie yesterday.
The protest, which was led by Headley’s wife, Patricia Campbell, who carried a placard reading ‘Murder is murder’ is the second that was held within the past few days.
Just on Friday, relatives and friends of Headley protested outside Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn’s office.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Campbell said that the family is demanding an update on the investigation and is calling for the suspects to be charged.
“Up to now we haven’t heard anything back. The names of the police officers that was present, nothing. I don’t know anything about the matter. How it is proceeding, nothing. I have no update on it,” Campbell said.
Campbell is calling on the authorities to act at the soonest so that the suspects can appear in court and face the full force of the law.
“It’s been one week and over and its time. They need to be going to court and be charged for murder,” she said.
At Friday’s protest, Benn met with the protestors and assured them that the investigation is ongoing.
“The Minister assured close relatives and friends of Mr. Headley that the matter was under investigation by the Guyana Police Force and that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was involved in the investigation and that the Police Complaints Authority was notified,” the Ministry said in a press release.
Two of Headley’s relatives later accompanied Benn to his office, where he contacted Hoppie, who reiterated the assurances.
“Both the Minister and the Commis-sioner noted the grave concerns of the relatives and friends with respect to the effect and fears relating to police misconduct,” the release added.
According to Campbell, Benn did take Headley’s sister and eldest son to his office on Friday.
“…..He (Benn) spoke with them and told them that this new week, we would hear something or the men will be going to court. But today (yesterday) is Monday. Nobody called, I am not hearing anything. Tomorrow (today) is Tuesday. Nothing. So I wanna know what’s going on. If it’s something they sweep under the carpet,” Campbell said.
“I am not saying that they are not doing a thorough investigation but these people need to be reveal. Let us see their faces, their ages and so on. I wanna know…..I want to get the facts from them. I don’t want hearsay from people,” she further stated.
Headley, 45, of Dowding Street, Kitty was shot and killed two Saturdays ago while he was being transported to the Providence Station.
An autopsy later showed that he died as a result of perforation of the lung due to a gunshot injury.
At the time, Headley was seated in the front passenger seat of a civilian car, which was being driven by a policeman. A rank was sitting in the back passenger seat.
The police had said that preliminary investigations revealed that the lawmen were acting on a tip-off about an armed robbery that was committed at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on May 11, 2021.
The vehicle with Headley and another passenger, who was also being treated as a suspect, was intercepted at approximately 8.45 PM at Nandy Park, EBD.
During a search of the vehicle, a television set that is suspected to have been stolen during the May 11 armed robbery was found, prompting police to arrest Headley and the other passenger.
Headley was placed in the front passenger seat of the civilian vehicle, which was being driven by a police rank, with an armed police rank in the back seat, while the other suspect was placed in the police vehicle with the other ranks, police said.
On their way to the station, the police said that Headley reached under the seat of the vehicle and pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, causing the armed rank to discharge a round which struck him in his body.
Headley, a father of two, was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.
Hoppie has since ordered that the investigation into the shooting be “swiftly” concluded and the results made public.
Two police officers, including the alleged shooter, were initially placed under close arrest. They are now under open arrest as the probe continues.
