Death of Essequibo Coast businessman “Unlawful, unjustified, and excessive” – Judge tells cop of actions in killing

…jailed for 25 years

Police Constable Sherwin Peters was on Thursday sentenced to 25 years in jail for the unlawful killing of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast businessman Orin Boston, nearly four years after the incident occurred.
On June 25, 2025, before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Essequibo, Peters was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial that featured testimony from some 25 witnesses.

He was remanded to prison and returned to court on Thursday for sentencing.
The 25-year sentence is to be computed from June 25 – the date the jury returned its verdict and Peters was remanded to prison.
The charge stemmed from an early morning shooting on September 15, 2021, during an anti-crime operation conducted by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit at Boston’s home.
Despite the operation, no illegal items were found on the premises.
According to the prosecution, led by State Counsel Latifah Elliot, Peters unlawfully shot Boston during the course of the raid. Peters, who chose to represent himself during the trial, was first charged in January 2022 and granted bail in the sum of $1 million.

The incident triggered outrage after Boston’s relatives disputed the police’s version of events.
While initial statements from the police suggested there was a confrontation, the family maintained that Boston was shot while sleeping.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, angry residents mounted roadblocks and lit debris in protest, demanding accountability for what many considered an unjustified killing.
An internal probe conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was completed and sent to the Police Complaints Authority, chaired by retired Justice William Ramlall. The findings were later reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who advised that manslaughter charges be instituted against the rank.

Peters was officially committed to stand trial in July 2022, nearly a year after the shooting.
Meanwhile, in handing down the sentence, Justice Kissoon declared that “the actions of Peters were unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified, disproportionate, and excessive.”
“The resort to lethal force was without any basis against an unarmed man asleep in his bed,” the Judge added.
The Judge further pointed out that the SWAT unit, comprising officers specially trained for high-risk interventions, failed in their responsibility to act with caution, restraint, and professionalism.
The Judge described their conduct as reckless, stressing that none of the officers had lawful grounds to enter Boston’s home, which he referred to as the man’s “castle and sanctuary”.