A New and United Guyana (ANUG) has called for inquests into the deaths of four men who were killed by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) within the last two months.
In separate letters, dated November 9, 2021, ANUG wrote to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Magistrate Esther Sam requesting investigations to be conducted into the deaths of Orin Boston, David Smith, Quacy Jupiter and Sydel Bourne, in keeping with the provisions of the Coroner’s Act.
The party said the purpose of the inquests is to determine whether any individual/s should be charged criminally for the deaths.
“A New and United Guyana hereby requests that… you promptly investigate the circumstances of the unnatural deaths and conduct an inquiry or inquest to determine whether those circumstances warrant the prosecution of any person for a criminal offence related to those deaths,” the letters stated.
All three of the letters, which were released by the party to the media, were copied to Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.
The letters in relation to the deaths of Boston, Jupiter and Smith were addressed to the Chief Magistrate, while the third letter, which focused on Boston’s death, was addressed to Magistrate Sam, since it occurred in a different magisterial district.
In the letters, ANUG said it is a political party which is seeking to “promote the rule of law, including adherence to statutory requirements to promote transparency and fight corruption and abuse of power”.
The Coroner’s Act states that where an unnatural death is reported to or comes to the knowledge of the coroner, “he shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, forthwith cause due investigation to be made as to the cause of that death and, if necessary, hold an inquest, or, if the circumstances so require, shall hold an inquiry.”
Over the past few months, there were several case where persons were shot and killed by the police.
In May, robbery accused Peter Headley was fatally wounded by a policeman. Just last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered an inquest into Headley’s death.
Sources had told this newspaper that the DPP also recommended that Lance Corporal 21011 Thowen Carroll, the policeman involved in the shooting, be charged departmentally with neglect of duty.
This is the second call by ANUG for an inquest to be conducted into the death of Boston. The first call was made by the party in September of this year.
Boston, 29, of Hoppie Street, Dartmouth was shot and killed on September 15 during what was said to be an anti-crime operation.
More than a week after the shooting, police had confirmed that the file was sent to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) for a “review”. To date, there has been no feedback on whether the file was returned or not or whether any action was taken against the rank, who was placed under close arrest.
A few weeks after, murder suspects, Quacy Jupiter, called ‘Ding Dong,’ and David Smith, called ‘Berlin,’ were fatally wounded by ranks who were on a stakeout. The men were wanted in connection with the murder of electrician Joshua Denny, who was shot and robbed of a gold chain shortly after leaving home for work on September 30.
Earlier this month, teenager Sydel Bourne was fatally wounded by a plainclothes rank, who claimed that Bourne tried to rob his wife.
However, eyewitnesses had contradicted the shooter’s claim and said that he had shot the teen in the back after accusing him of robbing the woman.
The police later said there is no evidence to arrest the police sergeant.
