Cop charged with attempted murder

Aug 11, 2016 News

…over shooting of alleged wife-beater

After allegedly gun-butting and shooting a man whose reputed wife had accused him of assaulting

CHARGED: Constable Lyndon Thompson

her, 25-year-old Police Constable Lyndon Thompson appeared yesterday before Magistrate Leron Daly, and was charged with attempted murder.
It is alleged that Constable Thompson, of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, discharged a loaded firearm at Shawn Williams with intent to commit murder on August 8, at Itaballi Landing, Region Seven.
The father of one was not required to plead to the indictable charge read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was released on $150,000 bail and instructed to report to police at ‘F’ Division Headquarters. The accused was also ordered to surrender his passport.
He will return to court on September 6, appearing before the Chief Magistrate.
Thompson’s Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam asked for his client to be released on bail. He said that Thompson was responding to a report of domestic violence committed on a woman. He added that his client made contact with Williams who was behaving in a disorderly manner.
Amsterdam said that Williams advanced to Constable Thompson and attempted to relieve him of his firearm. He said that his client retaliated and shot Williams. The lawyer stated that help was sought from public-spirited citizens with placing Williams in a boat.
Williams was taken to the Bartica Hospital where he is reportedly in a stable condition.
Police Prosecutor Kevin London had no objections to Thompson being granted pre-trial liberty.
According to the lawyer, Thompson, who has been a serving member of the Guyana Police Force for the past six years, was placed under close arrest and subsequently released on open arrest.
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is conducting a separate investigation into the purported breaches of standard operating procedure by the constable
Police in a statement said that the subordinate officer in-charge sent a constable with a Service revolver, along with the woman who made the report. On arrival, the assailant was contacted and in the intervening process an argument ensued between the constable and the assailant. Eyewitnesses claimed that the policeman struck the assailant to the head with the firearm and the man fell, after which it is further alleged that the policeman discharged a round at the assailant, hitting him in the upper chest.