A Police Complaints Authority (PCA) probe into the controversial June 10 killing of Quindon Bacchus and the decision to charge a Lance Corporal with his murder has left the cops’ version of the case in tatters and will raise further doubts about the credibility of the force even as it tries to rebuild its public image.
Bacchus, 23, a father of one, was shot and killed by a policeman on June 10 at Haslington New Scheme, ECD.
In the initial report on the shooting, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had said that a 22-year-old construction worker had provided information and later led the ranks to Bacchus, who was in possession of a firearm at the time and had intended to sell it to an undercover police officer.
The statement said the plain clothes rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and then returned with the gun.
However, during the handing over of the gun, the police said an alarm was raised and Bacchus suddenly ran in a southern direction while discharging a round in the rank’s direction. The rank then took out his service pistol and returned fire.
The police claimed Bacchus had then run further south and jumped into a yard where the police also gave chase. Bacchus reportedly discharged more shots at the rank, who immediately took cover and returned fire, hitting Bacchus about his body.
Police had said that the man fell to the ground along with the firearm, which was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that contained one round. The police also said that the one .380 spent shell and two 9mm spent shells were recovered at the scene.
The circumstances of the shooting had been questioned from the outset by Bacchus’ family and friends, prompting a series of protests as they called for justice. Last week Tuesday, a protest calling for justice for Bacchus erupted into violence through several villages on the East Coast, which resulted in persons being assaulted and vendors being looted.
The investigation into Bacchus’ killing was headed by the Police Com-plaints Authority following calls for an impartial probe. It was then handed over to the DPP.
On Tuesday, based on advice given by the Direc-tor of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega was charged with the murder of Bacchus and remanded to prison.
Two of his colleagues; Thurston Simon and newly promoted Cadet Officer Dameion McLennon were also charged for obstruction of justice based on the allegation that they tried to cover up the manner in which Bacchus was killed.
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Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charges to the three police officers during a virtual hearing.
The charge against 22-year-old DeNobrega, of Lot 30 Canal Dam, Lilien-daal, East Coast Demerara (ECD), states that on Friday, June 10th, 2022 at Haslington, ECD, he murdered Bacchus.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until July 19, 2022, when he is due to appear at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where the matter was transferred.
During the court proceeding, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers disclosed that the investigation which was launched into the shooting revealed that the firearm which Bacchus had was not in working condition.
This raised eyebrows since it contradicts the police account of what transpired during the operation.
Stabroek News yesterday reached out to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and several police sources for a comment on this but they refused to engage in a discussion, stating that the matter is currently before the court.
“I am not getting into discussion about that. This is a matter which is engaging the attention of the court so I don’t think I have to say anything further. Let the court pronounce on the matter,” Benn told Stabroek News.
This has happened at a time when the issue of restoring public trust has been high on the police force’s agenda and it may further hinder the way in which the public views the country’s key law enforcement agency.
Simon and McLennon were charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice by giving false information to the police in the course of the investigation into the death of Bacchus
They both denied the charge and were remanded to prison until July 12th.
The DPP had recommended for Simon to be charged with the disciplinary offence of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
McLennon was promoted from Sergeant to Cadet Officer during the recent promotion for the GPF’s 183rd anniversary celebrations.
DeNobrega has a pending bribery case.
