Family of dead mechanic accuses Police of pussyfooting around on investigations

Soesdyke-Linden Highway hit-and-run

It has been more than three weeks since the death of an auto body technician, Brian Basdeo, who lost his life on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on January 19 and his family members are not pleased with the progress of the police investigations.
Sister of the now dead man, Sherry Basdeo told Guyana Times that she still mourns the death of her young brother whose life was literally dragged from him on that fateful night.
Although she has been making constant contact with the police on the matter, all she is being told is that investigations are ongoing.
The distraught and unsatisfied woman said she has been told by the police that they do not have enough evidence to pursue the main suspect in the case, although his car was found in his Grove, East Bank Demerara, home with changed car parts, coincidentally, the part of the car that matched the one they found on the highway which was believed to have fallen off after hitting the now dead man and friend.
An officer, she said, related to her that the suspect’s brother was “earlier” involved in an accident which resulted in the damages to the car.
Basdeo said she has become very frustrated and would like to know what it takes for poor people to get justice in Guyana.
Last week, when this newspaper spoke with the Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, he explained that the matter remains under investigation and will be sent for advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Isles, who confirmed that the main suspect has fled the country, was unable to say whether or not a wanted bulletin would be issued or what turn the investigation would take. He would only say that the policing team is continuing their investigation.
Twenty-one-year-old Brian Basdeo was killed in the accident on January 19, while another was injured.
A source close to the investigation told this publication that the suspect’s father and brother were questioned by the police while a white Toyota RunX, suspected to be the car involved in the accident, was impounded.
It was reported that the suspect left Guyana the Monday after the accident.
Basdeo, an auto body technician of Grass Field, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, had travelled to the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to tow another car to his home to have it repaired.
The car with the mechanical issue was being towed by another car driven by a friend of the now deceased man. As they moved off, the car that was being towed and steered by Basdeo started to make a loud noise.
At that time, Basdeo shouted to his friend, ordering him to stop. They both exited their vehicles to make checks.
Another car then pulled up to render assistance and in doing so, they saw the white Toyota RunX approaching at a fast rate.
Guyana Times understands that the man who stopped to help shouted for Basdeo and the other man to move out of the way as he ran to safety.
Basdeo was reportedly stooping down to conduct checks on the vehicle when he was struck and tossed by the speeding car. He landed onto the roadway and died almost immediately.
His friend, who attempted to run, was also struck by the speeding car, the driver of which did not stop to render assistance. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was examined and it was discovered that his left leg was broken in several places. He was treated while Basdeo was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Hospital.