Ballistics tests contradict stories of cop, suspect – Police
Stabroek Market shooting
As Police continue to probe the ‘accidental’ shooting of a 54-year-old woman last week when she was caught in the cross-fire between a law enforcement official and an alleged bandit at the Stabroek Market area, the Guyana Police Force on Monday said that ballistics results contradict the stories of both the Constable and the suspect.
Police had initially claimed that Jean Rodrigues, a mother of eight of Lot 35 Crane, West Coast Demerara, was hit by a bullet discharged by a bandit.
Jean Rodrigues was shot in the back during a Police chase
However, the Police statement said following the tests, the stories of both the Policeman and the suspect were challenged.
“… the Constable has been removed from that type of duty, to another area as the investigation continues,” the Force added.
According to the statement, the case file will be completed in a few days and sent for legal advice.
Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation told Guyana Times that the ballistics revealed gunpowder residue on the hands of the Policeman and the suspect.
According to the source, with this recent development, the teen suspect, who was released after being held for the mandatory 72 hours, was likely to be rearrested.
Reports are that around 16:00h on September 20, 2016 while in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market, Georgetown, Rodrigues was shot during a shootout between a Policeman and a fleeing bandit.
The alleged bandit later turned out to be a teenage footballer identified as Kelsey Benjamin.
He was turned over to Police at the Brickdam Police Station by his mother. After being held, the young man was released without charge.
At the time of the shooting, Rodrigues, her husband, three of their three children and a grandchild were waiting for a bus to travel to Grove, East Bank Demerara to attend a relative’s wake.
