Family members of Quindon Bacchus are expressing disquiet with the final report emanating from the Police Complaints Authority and at the same time are accusing the Guyana Police Force of being less than honest from the inception.
In an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, a relative said that now they are being made aware that other policemen were involved in the incident and are insisting that they, too, be charged. Family and friends of Bacchus held a protest and vigil on Sunday evening to demand justice. According to the family, the first report issued by the Guyana Police Force stated that Bacchus shot in the direction of a police rank and the rank returned fire with his service pistol. But in the court hearing in which three members of the Guyana Police Force were charged, the Police Prosecutor stated that their investigation revealed that the firearm which Bacchus allegedly used was not in working condition.
Based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega was last Tuesday charged with the murder of Quindon Bacchus and two of DeNobrega’s colleagues, Lance Corporal Thurston Simon and newly promoted Cadet Officer Dameion McLennon were charged with obstruction of justice and attempting to cover up the manner in which Bacchus was killed. The three ranks appeared virtually before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who read the charges, after which they were remanded to prison.
The charge against 22-year-old DeNobrega, of Lot 30 Canal Dam, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD), stated that on Friday, June 10th, 2022 at Haslington, ECD, he murdered Bacchus. The father of one was not required to plead to the indictable charge. DeNobrega will make his next court appearance on July 19, 2022, at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where the matter was transferred.
According to Police Prosecutor and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Neville Jeffers, on the day in question, at about 14:30 hrs, DeNobrega, in the company with other ranks, went to Haslington, ECD, on a sting operation.
It was reported that the ranks went to meet Bacchus to purchase a firearm. Jeffers said that DeNobrega alleged that sometime during the operation, Bacchus opened fire on him and as a result, he returned fire with the gun that was issued to him, which resulted in several rounds hitting Bacchus. The Police Prosecutor went on to say that after the alleged shoot-out, Bacchus sustained seven gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died. Jeffers also pointed out that DeNobrega, who was represented by attorney Kezia Williams, currently has a bribery case pending.
