Family of burnt teen calls out Police for dragging feet on probe

Almost a month after a South Sophia, Greater Georgetown teen was doused with gasoline and set alight by 15 men, his family has expressed disappointment at the manner in which Police are handling the probe.

As such, Handel Payne, 18, of Lot 75 Block E Sophia, and his relatives are frustrated since the police are giving them a royal-run-around.
The family revealed that since the incident, no arrests have been made and the suspects continue to roam the street freely.
They said Payne has been making several visits to the police station, and he is being told that they are still investigating.
Recently, one of the suspect’s vehicle was towed away by Police in efforts to capture him but they were not informed if the suspect was eventually arrested.
“There are no new developments so far, it is just stagnant right now, everything is at standstill, and we are not getting no information. The other guys have not been arrested as yet, it’s just at a standstill,” a relative stated.
“They told us sometime back that they were waiting on something to get them arrested but I don’t know what happened. I don’t even know if they give back the boy his vehicle. It is frustrating to know that you have to be up, down and you’re not getting proper follow-up on what is happening”.
The teen’s family said they are so frustrated to the point that they want to give up and forget about the incident.
It was reported that Payne was at a friend’s house on the day of the incident when the group of men pulled up and accused him of being involved in an offence, to which he is clueless.
Shortly after, they picked him up from where he was and took him to a location somewhere in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, where they dragged him out of the car and began to beat him.
The teen alleged that whilst he was being beaten, his abductors doused him with gasoline and set him alight. He had told this publication that he recognised two of the men who committed the act while stating that one of them resides not far away from his home.
Payne narrated that after he was lit afire, he fought to get his clothes off. However, after a while, the men quenched the fire on the young man’s body by throwing water on him. He claimed that his attackers then threw him into the car, and took him to the police station.
While at the police station, Payne alleged that he was thrown at the back of a police truck by some officers and the same persons who set him ablaze and taken to the Georgetown Hospital.
He sustained first and second degree burns to his neck, torso, arms, hands, and back.
While the lad remains adamant that he did not commit the crime, he said he continues to fear for his life with the men still on the loose.
Meanwhile, efforts made to contact Commander of A division Simon McBean on Friday were futile.