Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn yesterday said that the case file on the killing of Dartmouth businessman Orin Boston, who was shot dead by a policeman at his home three weeks ago, is still with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
“It’s with them [the PCA]. They have to do the investigation. So I wouldn’t want to… I couldn’t add anything new to it,” Benn told Stabroek News yesterday when asked for an update on the investigation on the sidelines of an event.
Boston, 29, of Hoppie Street, Dart-mouth was shot and killed on September 15 during what was said to be an anti-crime operation.
More than a week after the incident, police had confirmed that the file was sent to the PCA for a “review”.
The rank accused of inflicting the fatal wound remains under close arrest, Benn said.
The police, in a statement, had said that SWAT team ranks were conducting the operation at around 4.40 am during which they went to the home of Boston to conduct a search.
During the search, the police said there was a “confrontation” between Boston and the police, resulting in him being shot.
Boston was rushed to the Suddie Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy later revealed that Boston died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries to the chest.
Boston’s widow, Feona Boston, had previously told reporters that the police kicked down their back door, went into their bedroom and shot the businessman. She said that ranks were all over the house with guns and her two children, ages 6 and 7, witnessed the entire ordeal.
Contacted recently, Feona told Stabroek News that since the incident, she was not provided with any details as it relates to the investigation.
“The police, nobody ain’t given we a proper answer… Since this thing happen… today is twenty-something days since my husband dead and I ain’t hear nothing. Nobody ain’t saying anything,” Feona stressed.
Feona said she feels “lost”.
“I worried because I want know what going on and nobody ain’t tell me nothing. I feel like I lost or something… I feel like I lost because since I lost my husband I don’t know what to say,” she added.
The investigation was spearheaded by the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
Under its governing Act, the PCA is mandated to undertake a probe of all fatal police shootings. It is, however, not required to review the internal police probe.
Recently, President Irfaan Ali said that there will be a thorough and impartial investigation into Boston’s killing.
Benn had also visited the family and promised that all efforts will be made to ensure his death is “thoroughly” investigated.
Late last month, Attorney Nigel Hughes had told Stabroek News that the family of Boston is giving the police “reasonable” time to complete the probe, while noting failure to do so can lead to private criminal charges.
“We afforded the police what we consider a reasonable time to conclude the investigation. In the event that they fail to conclude the investigation, we have, we believe, sufficient evidence to commence private criminal charges,” Hughes told this newspaper in an invited comment.
A New and United Guyana (ANUG) previously called for a Coroner’s Inquest into Boston’s death.
In a statement, ANUG said that the Inquest should be conducted by the district magistrate as coroner, adding that the coroner is empowered to summon reputable residents of the neighbourhood to act as jurors during the inquest, and to subpoena witnesses and hear evidence.
It said that the Coroner’s Inquest should be open so that the public, the media and the entire country can be advised of the following: (i) what ‘intelligence’ the SWAT team acted on to break into Boston’s home; (ii) why they did not have a search warrant to enter the premises; (iii) whether their forced entry into those premises was lawful; and (iv) what circumstances necessitated the use of deadly force by twelve trained and armed men to subdue one man in his bedroom.
