Latest update March 22nd, 2025 6:44 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Some shocking happenings in judicial quarters

Mar 22, 2014 Editorial

Some events send shockwaves through a society. For example, when President Forbes Burnham died the country was stunned. The news was that his political party was gearing for its biennial congress a few weeks later so he had to have his throat cleared of plaque that had built up.
It is now common knowledge that he never survived the surgical intervention.  His death was a shocker. The death of Dr Cheddi Jagan was less stunning. Had he not languished in an American hospital then Guyana would have been more shocked than it was. Indeed, if his aides had been allowed to have their way the nation would not have been told anything.
It turned out that there were daily reports all of which stated that Dr Jagan was critical, but stable until he suffered some relapse. The message was clear; he was dying slowly  each relapse indicated.
When the so-called cricketer, Carlyle Barton, was freed of shooting to death a harmless man said to be his friend the entire country was horrified. There was the video evidence and the video was clear. It showed Barton coming out of his car and shooting Shawn Nelson even as the man walked toward him.
This video was widely circulated; there was no doubt that Barton shot the man then calmly got back into his car and drove away, barely missing the dying Nelson who by this time was lying on the roadway.
The court later claimed that the police never tendered the video and if they did, there was no one to testify to the authenticity of the video. There were many loopholes in the matter that Barton simply walked free. Here was a man who shot and killed an unarmed man who was doing nothing but walking toward his killer. He was freed of any criminal  action.
Lo and behold, if one thought that the Barton incident was a blemish on the legal landscape, then one had not realized that the same thing would happen a few months later.  Randy Jagdeo was accused of shooting his friend, Kirk Davis, to death. There was at least one eyewitness but many people had seen the result of the shooting having been alerted by the sound of gunshots.
To compound the issue, Jagdeo undertook to flee the country in a bid to avoid prosecution. He reportedly fled to Suriname but his wife, who could testify to the shooting, was allowed to leave the country so that she could offer no evidence. The result is that the police failed to do so many things right that Jagdeo was discharged.
The act that Barton and Jagdeo had access to lots of money has not escaped notice. Did they pay the investigators to botch the case? That is the view of a large section of the population. Of course, the Director of Public Prosecutions could reinstitute the charges, and she did in the Barton case. Sadly, Barton has fled the country and has avoided further prosecution.
Something must be wrong with our criminal justice system when clear cases of murder are allowed to become no more serious that a man who jumps a traffic light. This is shocking. It is now left for people to question the police about what could have led to the discharge of these two cases although there seemed to be a preponderance of evidence.
If the police need to demonstrate that they are above corruption then they must say what went wrong with the prosecution. We know that this is not new territory. We had a policeman who shot and killed an Albouystown resident but was charged with manslaughter.
A magistrate erroneously sought to hike the charge to murder. This matter never went to trial and like Barton after him; he left the country for good. The police allowed it to happen.
The release of Barton and Jagdeo must be seen as an embarrassment to the investigating ranks of the Guyana Police Force.  Even worse, since all matters are sent to the DPP for advice one must ask the DPP to explain the level of the prosecution.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in...

Mar 22, 2025

…but must first conquer the One Guyana 3×3 Quest Kaieteur Sports-  For Caribbean teams, qualifying for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour is a dream come true. However, the opportunity to...
Read More
Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action today

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Mar 22, 2025

Track and Field clubs demand nullification of AAG elections

Track and Field clubs demand nullification of AAG...

Mar 22, 2025

Joint Statement from WIPA and CWI on Athlete Safeguarding

Joint Statement from WIPA and CWI on Athlete...

Mar 22, 2025

RCNA launches Childhood Obesity Prevention Inter-School Tapeball Competition

RCNA launches Childhood Obesity Prevention...

Mar 22, 2025

FL Sport donates stumps to Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club

FL Sport donates stumps to Meten-Meer-Zorg...

Mar 22, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]