Lad, 16, allegedly brutalized while in custody over ‘stolen’ cell phone

Oct 21, 2013 News

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– accused detective apologises to family, offers $200,000 compensation

A police rank who admitted to beating a 16-year-old boy in custody while questioning him about a stolen phone has apologized to the teen’s family and is offering them compensation.
Relatives said that Kevin Handley, 16, of Lot 48 Perry Street, Tucville, was struck with the handle of a sledge hammer and repeatedly kicked on Saturday while in custody at the East La Penitence Police Station. He was allegedly brutalised by a detective, who the family identified, while being questioned about a cell phone that a Guyana Defence Force rank claimed he had stolen.

The relatives said that Handley, who was released without charges, collapsed outside the station on Saturday night and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment.
Relatives subsequently had him transferred to a private hospital and he was subsequently discharged.
While a police medical report stated that the teen had no abrasions or lacerations, and there was no sign of physical assault, family members claimed that they saw bruises on the alleged victim.
Handley’s head was bandaged and one of his arms was in a sling when Kaieteur News visited the home yesterday.
A Kaieteur News reporter was present when the detective who had allegedly brutalised Handley turned up at the lad’s home yesterday and pleaded with his relatives not to report the incident to his superiors, since he could lose his job.
He also offered them $200,000 in compensation, but the injured teen’s relatives said that they are determined to take the matter further.
“We are not taking his money because this nonsense has to stop,” Handley’s mother, Leslyn Austin, told Kaieteur News.
Kaieteur News understands that the relatives made a report at the Brickdam Police Station late yesterday after speaking to a senior officer at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary.
Handley’s relatives said that on Friday, a Guyana Defence Force rank accused the teen of stealing his cell phone and assaulted him. They said that Handley made a report at the East La penitence Police Station, but no action was taken.
“He (Handley) made a report at the police station and the next day (Saturday), four policeman come in my house and say they searching for some phone, but they didn’t find any so they take Handley down to the station with them,” his mother, Leslyn Austin said. The ranks also detained a 13-year-old friend of Handley’s.
Ms. Austin said that when she visited the East La Penitence Station to enquire about her son, a detective said that her son and the 13-year-old were accused of stealing a cellular phone belonging to an army rank.
“This policeman keep telling me that my son stole the GDF officer phone and that we should come to a settlement and pay back the man for he phone, but I refuse because I know my son didn’t take any phone,” Austin said.

According to the mother, the detective said he would charge her son for simple larceny and he will “go to jail for a long time.”
“I told him that the Magistrate has to decide that and I left.”
Sixteen-year-old Kevin Handley, who also spoke to Kaieteur News, alleged that a detective, whom he identified by name, took him, along with his friend, into a room at the station. He alleged that the detective struck him repeatedly on the back and head with the handle of a sledge-hammer. The youth alleged that the rank also kicked him.
“He put me to bend over and kick me and he took a sledge hammer and used the handle to hit me and he said if I don’t confess he will use the metal part and smash my brains.”
According to Handley, the detective also threatened to “shock” his testicles if he didn’t admit to stealing the phone.
His mother said that she returned to the station at around 17:00 hrs on Saturday “and the (same) policeman called and tell me that the GDF officer decided to settle the story because he aint want go to court.”
She added that when she arrived at the station, her son, who was by then released, told her about his ordeal at the hands of the detective.
“Before we reach the (station) gate he collapsed and no police come out to help. We called an ambulance but it was taking too long so we had to take a taxi.”
“I asked the police officer for a police medical form but she refused. At the hospital they wanted to admit him but I refuse.”
At around 13:00 hrs yesterday, the detective who had allegedly beaten Handley visited the teen’s home to apologise to his family and offer compensation.
One relative asked: “Is that the boots you kicked my son with?” to which the rank nervously replied, “yeeeaa.”
Asked if he knew what the outcome of his action could lead to, the detective said: “I know what I did was wrong and I could lose my job; that is why I am here to make a settlement because I don’t want to lose my job.”
He then offered Handley’s family $200,000. He promised to pay $100,000 on Wednesday and the remaining balance on Friday. However, he then asked if the compensation could be reduced.

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