Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
Patentia schoolboy killing …Police was not privy to DPP’s advice on the matter before charging accused – court hears
A police witness testifying in the matter, in which Police Constable Quancy John is indicted for killing Patentia schoolboy
Slain schoolboy Kelvin Fraser
Kelvin Fraser, admitted that he was not privy to the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before charging the accused with murder.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Linden Lord told the court that he had assisted with the investigation relative to a report of an alleged murder which was committed by the policeman at Patentia, West Bank Demerara.
John, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, is alleged to have shot and killed the 15-year-old schoolboy in the vicinity of the Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara on June 7, 2010.
The policeman was interdicted and charged with murder after the incident sparked widespread protests locally and abroad, from members of the public who called for justice for the slain schoolboy.
John is currently on trial before Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed 12-member jury at the Georgetown Supreme Court.
Deputy Superintendent Lord, who was stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters at Eve Leary, in June of 2010, told the court yesterday that Constable John was charged two weeks after the incident had occurred.
He was called to the stand by State Prosecutor, Diana Kaulesar. The policeman said that the accused was formally charged with murder on June 25, 2010.
Lord stated that based on advice from the DPP, he cautioned and read the charge to Constable John in the presence of his attorney. The policeman said that the accused, whom he identified as the prisoner sitting in the dock, had remained silent after the charge was laid.
However, under cross-examination by Defence Counsel, Glen Hanoman, the Deputy Superintendent told the court that he had not obtained any evidence to support a murder charge. Lord said that the file relating to the investigations had been sent to the DPP office for legal advice and further explained that the charge was based on the DPP’s instructions.
Hanoman then suggested to the police witness that in his evidence at the Magistrates’ Court, he said that he had not seen the DPP’s advice before laying the charge. The witness denied this and maintained that he had seen the advice.
Lord was subsequently permitted to read an excerpt of his original deposition, after which he admitted that he had not seen the advice of the DPP before charging John.
According to reports, Constable John who was attached to the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara was on patrol with a group of other policemen when they responded to a report that a group of schoolboys were smoking what was suspected to be marijuana in the vicinity of the school.
The students, who were dressed in casual clothing, reportedly ran helter-skelter upon seeing the ranks. The policeman, who was armed with a shotgun, is said to have fatally shot one of the schoolboys in a bid to capture him.
On Thursday, Police Detective Elson Baird told the court that the officer had claimed that the youth was shot during a struggle over the shotgun.
Several other witnesses are scheduled to testify when the matter resumes on Monday.
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