The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) are currently investigating the death of Brian Knight, the man who was found hanging in the Leonora Police Station lockups last week.
“The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), as well as the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) are currently conducting separate and impartial investigations into the death of Mr. Knight,” the force said in a statement issued yesterday afternoon.
The statement also indicated that following discussions with Knight’s relatives, the force has committed to cover his funeral expenses.
“Mr. [Calvin] Brutus noted that this decision was made “purely on humanitarian grounds” and should in no way be construed as any admission of culpability on the part of the GPF,” the statement said.
Knight’s body was found hanging in cell number one of the Leonora Police Station lockups around 13.30 hrs last Monday.
Police had said that the discovery was made by a police rank who was making checks at the lockups.
Knight was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting his wife and he was scheduled to appear in court.
Speaking to Stabroek News, Knight’s family had called for a thorough investigation to be launched into his death, which was alleged to have been a suicide.
“I want they do a proper investigation because I don’t know what happened after they carry he in,” his wife, Fiona Knight, said.
Fiona had said that the police had not confirmed his death to her, and that she had only learnt of her husband’s death through his cousin via a phone call.
“Up to now the police didn’t tell me that he dead… is Brian cousin call me and tell me,” she said.
The woman related that when she visited the station upon hearing the news, instead of being informed of the man’s death, she was interrogated by police ranks at the station. “…Then when I gone to the station after I hear, they start questioning me about we problems at home… even unto now they didn’t say he dead,” she said.
Fiona had explained that both she and Brian were ill with the flu last Monday and as a result he went to the hospital to seek medical attention.
After he returned home, they had a confrontation, causing her to make a report to the station where the man was then taken.
She added that although she and her partner had a misunderstanding, she was still concerned about his well-being.
Fiona further related that when the police arrived to take him to the station, she cautioned them that Knight was ill and told them to take good care of him.
She said that she even showed the officers the details of the various medications he was prescribed after he had returned from the hospital
“…If they did take better care I don’t think he woulda do duh. Is their own negligence because I tell them he wasn’t feeling good and that they must check on he,” Fiona said.
