Cops did not get bodies until days after shooting - Brumell

Cops did not get bodies until days after shooting – Brumell

Sep 26, 2012 News

Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell said that his ranks were unable to take possession of the bodies of the slain Lindeners until several days after their death.
The Commissioner made this statement yesterday while being cross-examined by APNU Member of Parliament and Attorney-at-Law, Basil Williams, during the second day of the Commission of Inquiry into the Linden tragedy.
Williams was at the time questioning the Top Cop about whether families should have immediate access to the bodies of relatives allegedly killed by the police, and how often families were allowed to have independent pathologists involved in autopsies in cases of alleged police killings.
Brumell concurred that police ranks were supposed to have custody of bodies from the scenes, but this did not happen in the Linden shootings.
“Do you agree that in cases of alleged police shootings which result in deaths that it is only the police who would have custody of bodies from the scene to the pathologist’s table?” Williams asked.
“We are supposed to have custody of the body, but in this case it was different. The bodies didn’t come into the possession of the police until days after,” Brumell responded.
“So as Commissioner of Police, even if the bodies were in the hospital mortuary at Linden, are they not in possession of the Guyana Police Force?” the attorney queried.
“The police did not get to see the bodies until days after because of what was happening at Linden,” the Top Cop said without elaborating.
Williams also questioned the Police Commissioner on whether the government pathologist conducts all post mortem examinations in killings in which police ranks were implicated. Asked whether families should be immediately allowed to see the bodies of relatives shot by victims, the Commissioner said that this could occur.
“But it does not happen,” Williams asserted.
Questioned by Commission member, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, Brumell stated that families can hire an independent pathologist, as long as the relevant procedures, such as obtaining a work permit for an overseas pathologist, are followed.
He also affirmed that Guyana had no pathologists who were not employed by the Government.
Questioned further by Williams, Brumell admitted that “it is rare” for permission to be given for independent pathologists to come to Guyana to perform autopsies.
Yesterday, several police documents were also entered as evidence. They included Unit books of Riot Unit ranks; the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Station diary; the Guyana Police Force Standing Orders and training modules.

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Cops did not get bodies until days after shooting – Brumell

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