It has been seven weeks since robbery accused Peter Headley was fatally shot by a policeman and the authorities remain tightlipped about the probe.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the case file in the matter is currently with the Chairman of the Police Complaints Autho-rity (PCA), Justice (Ret’d) William Ramlal.
Efforts made to contact the PCA for an update proved futile.
However, sources told this newspaper that Ramlal is expected to visit Rondel Daly, the man who was arrested with Headley. Daly is currently on remand after he was charged with armed robbery.
While the PCA is obligated to investigate cases where police have been involved in fatal shootings that is never a bar on the Guyana Police Force investigating and bringing charges following advice either from within the force or from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). It is unclear why the police are yet to do this.
Headley, 45, of Dowding Street, Kitty was shot and killed on May 16 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.
Two police officers, including the alleged shooter, were initially placed under close arrest. They were later placed under open arrest as the probe continue.
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 Daly, 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.
About two weeks after, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie had ordered that the investigation into the shooting be “swiftly” concluded and the results made public.
Since then there has been no update.
This newspaper had subsequently enquired through the force Corporate Communications Unit whether the investigation was completed but was told by Deputy Director, Stan Gouveia that there was no such information at that time.
Headley relatives had also held a number of protests in their quest for justice.
Contacted this week, Patricia Campbell, Headley’s wife said she is unable to say what’s going on with the matter. “Nobody ain’t telling me nothing,” she said.
