Ryan Couchman was murdered – family says

Jan 08, 2015 News

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… refutes police robbery claims

 

The family of slain Diamond East Bank Demerara miner, Ryan Couchman, is calling the death of the father of two, a murder. Family members are seeking answers from the police as to what really transpired on the evening of his death.
The family of the 34-year-old man is not buying the story that Couchman attempted to snatch a police officer’s chain. According to them, Couchman was an established miner and was gainfully employed within a mining business which he and three other brothers operated.
Roy Couchman was accompanied by Ryan Couchman’s 14-year-old son, his wife, brother and several other family members when he visited Kaieteur News on Tuesday to correct what they believe are untruths being peddled by the police.
Still very emotional and upset, Roy stated that his younger brother had no reason to rob anyone and dismissed the police’s version of being robbed. The elder Couchman presented several documents to prove that his younger brother was gainfully employed and had no reason to be “a petty chain snatcher.”
The elder Couchman sees the policeman’s explanation as disrespectful to his deceased brother’s reputation. The dead man was scheduled to leave for the interior where the brothers have ongoing mining operations. As a result of his brother’s last son celebrating his birthday, he said the deceased remained in the city. A packed truck with supplies was already waiting to take the now dead man into the interior, he claimed.
The elder Couchman presented receipts and legal documents showing that the brothers had recently entered into a joint venture agreement on December 4, with Mahdia Gold Corporation to commence mining work in the Gilt Creek and Omai River locations.
Ryan was the ground man, the older brother said. His job was to ensure the operation of the camps by providing equipment, material and ration.   The brothers have been in business for a number of years, and are recognized by gold agencies as Couchman Mining Company.
Couchman was said to have been in an altercation at the junction of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and the East Bank Demerara Highway, when he was shot once in the chest. The police say that Couchman and another man tried to steal an off duty officer’s chain.
At the time of his death, Couchman was wearing a pair of boots worth more than $20,000 and driving the latest model Allion car, Natasha Couchman, the dead man’s wife, said. “He had no reason to snatch anybody’s chain,” the relatives all agreed.
They are all convinced that there is more to the policeman’s story and are unmoved about Couchman’s death being an execution.
The family was even more peeved when the dead man was described as a “thief” and that he was a regular nuisance to the police.
The family said that indeed, Couchman had his share of police run-ins but he was never convicted of any crime and had no criminal record. Additionally they claimed, the last time he had a run-in with the law was since 2010, and since then he has been integrally involved in the family business.
“Does having a run-in with the law make you a criminal? Does making court appearances give anyone the right to label you as a criminal or a thief,” the dead man’s sister-in-law questioned.
Roy Couchman said that his brother’s death makes him sick to the stomach. “We are not saying that he was a saint or no angel, but he did not deserve that death. His son does not deserve to see him lying like an animal on the roadside.”
The Couchmans said that the deceased had begged several family members to go to the creek last Sunday, but no one took up the offer, so he decided to go with friends. One of the friends is in police custody but had to seek medical attention. This man had several abrasions and his face was swollen, but Couchman had no marks except for a small hole, from the gunshot wound in the middle of his chest.
The story doesn’t add up, the family reiterated. It was proven that the deceased was legally paralyzed in the left hand and “all this questions the police’s version of events,” they believe. The post mortem, the family said, showed that a single gunshot to the heart killed Couchman.
One named police rank, the family claimed, reported to them that the police officer had the right to use his firearm once he felt threatened. The officer reinforced that he cannot tell his ranks what situation is dangerous and when to use their weapon.
The Couchman’s requested a confrontation with the officer that killed their brother. They claim that the family will have some peace of mind if the officer could just tell them what happened. However all avenues to make this happen have been blocked.
The family called on citizens to stand up against what they say is “police brutally.”  “We calling on citizens, anybody, especially those who feel how we feel and have suffered because of police unprofessionalism to come out in support of us and we must stand together,” Roy Couchman urged.

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