File on Dartmouth fatal shooting being reviewed by PCA

In keeping with the legal procedure, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has dispatched the file on the fatal shooting of businessman Orin Boston to the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, former High Court Judge William Ramlall, to be reviewed.

This has been confirmed by the Communications Unit of the GPF on Wednesday evening. Further, the Police have said that family members of the slain businessman have been informed of the development.
These developments come days after Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had visited the grieving family, during which he expressed disappointment at the tragic incident and assured the family that the Government is committed to having an impartial investigation done.
The family have asked for a speedy investigation, so that they can ascertain the motive behind the incident and also to have closure.
“Police killing should never occur, only in extreme circumstances, where a Police life is in danger, or in a bid to save civilian lives. Our method should only occur as a process of lawful approaches,” Benn had stated.

Boston, of Hoppy Street Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was shot by SWAT officers during a search of his home at about 04:40h on September 15. Boston was reportedly shot with a .223 calibre rifle, which is the standard weapon issued to the SWAT team.
However, as word of Boston’s death spread in the community, angry friends, relatives and villagers took to the streets to vent their disapproval. They hauled fallen trees, old tyres and derelict cars to the middle of the main access road and began their fiery protest. This lasted for several days.
They demanded justice and answers from the Police as to what intelligence they possessed that caused them to enter the dead man’s home.

Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has visited the family and promised to leave no stone unturned as they ordered an independent probe by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The Top Cop also stated that the SWAT officer who fired the fatal shot has since been placed under close arrest as the investigation continues.
At a press conference hours after the shooting, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie indicated that Boston was killed as a result of intelligence gathered for an anti-crime operation. He could not say what the Police were searching for when they entered the home of the bar owner.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told reporters that Boston had never been prosecuted by the Police.
An autopsy performed on the body of Boston revealed that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries to the chest. Dr Nehaul Singh, who conducted the post mortem, also stated that a single warhead was removed from Boston’s body.
This contradicts the first report by the Police, which stated that the now dead businessman was shot to his arm following a confrontation with the SWAT team. Following the report, Boston’s wife had refuted the claim that there had been a confrontation on the morning of the deadly shooting. In fact, she related that he was in his bed when he was shot and killed.