Cops mum on probe into Linden shooting deaths

Aug 15, 2012 News

A shroud of mystery appears to surround the status of the investigation into the shooting deaths of Linden protesters Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset and Allan Lewis.
Almost a month has passed since the three were slain and several others injured, allegedly by police ranks armed with shotguns.
Deputy Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has stated that shotguns were used in the shooting. He has also said that four shotgun cartridges were the only ammunition that was unaccounted for by police ranks after the incident on July 18.
According to the Crime Chief, investigators know which ranks had shotguns on the fateful day and police officials also have statements from those who discharged rounds.
Persaud has declined to comment on reports that copper-coated pellets were extracted from two of the slain men as well as some of the injured protesters.
Police officials had told Kaieteur News over a week ago that ballistic tests were being conducted on shotguns that were submitted to the Force’s ballistics experts to ascertain if firing pin and other marks matched those on cartridges that were allegedly retrieved from the scene of the shooting.
It is unclear what could be delaying the investigation, though the Crime Chief had stated that some of the injured had refused to give investigators statements.
One of the country’s top legal officials has told Kaieteur News that once it is established that the shooting was unjustified, all of the policemen who opened fire, as well as the one who ordered his colleagues to shoot should be charged.
According to the official, once the ranks had acted in consort, it would not be necessary to ascertain which ranks fired the shots that killed the three protesters.
“Once the action is in consort…even if the bullet missed they should all be charged,” the legal official had said.
Two of the slain men were shot in the chest while one was shot in the back. It is believed that the shooters were standing about 15 feet away from the protesters when they opened fire.
The Force has never denied that police ranks were the individuals who killed Bouyea, Somerset and Lewis and wounded several others. There have been no reports of any civilians being seen with firearms during the July 18 protests.
Some Opposition parties have expressed a lack of confidence in the police being able to conduct an impartial investigation into the tragedy.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been attempting to bring United Kingdom ballistics expert Dr. David Robinson, to view the police ballistics tests.
While Government and the Opposition have agreed to a Commission of Inquiry, some have expressed the view that police should institute charges before the Inquiry begins.

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Cops mum on probe into Linden shooting deaths

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