Latest update October 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 14, 2017 News
-Magistrate to make ruling on October 30
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Frank Thompson who is accused of abusing and
threatening Constable Leandre Gillis, yesterday denied the allegations, stating that investigators never informed him of the offence nor even requested of him to gave a statement.
It is alleged that on February 22 at Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, ASP Thompson made use of abusive language towards Constable Gillis. Thompson, of 154 Back Street, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, has been released on $60,000 bail.
ASP Thompson told Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore that on the day in question, he was in his vehicle proceeding north along Broad Street, Georgetown where there was a heavy build-up in traffic.
He recalled being behind a blue motorcar when “something” on the roadway caught his attention causing him to “glance over”.
Thompson recalled that after regaining focus on the roadway, his vehicle ended up grazing a blue motor car, for which he later learnt of Mr. Boodhai being the driver.
According to the senior police rank, he and Mr. Boodhai were engaged in an argument after he exited his car. The argument, Thompson said, caught the attention of a party of policemen who were on a mobile patrol on the area. He recalled a Corporal Jones being part of that mobile patrol.
He said that Corporal Jones instructed him to drive to the Brickdam Police Station and he complied.
Thompson recounted that while at the police station, he related what had transpired to Mr. Brutus (Senior Superintendent of Police). He added that Mr. Boodhai also reported the accident to the Brickdam Police Station.
When questioned by his Attorney, Dexter Todd, Thompson told the court that he did not observe Constable Gillis being among the party of policemen since he (Thompson) was in an argument with the driver of the vehicle. He further disclosed that at no time was he involved in a conversation with Constable Gillis. Thompson added that he saw Constable Gillis and some other ranks driving into the Brickdam Police Station while he was leaving for home.
He stated that Constable Gillis did not request of him to produce his documents for the vehicle, but rather, he submitted them to traffic ranks while at the police station.
According to the senior cop, he first met Constable Gillis at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Headquarters, where he had been under close arrest.
Thompson disclosed that he was never contacted by the Office of Professional Responsibility in relation to investigations into the matter.
Under cross examination by Police Prosecutor Sergeant Bess, Thompson denied consuming alcohol on the day in question. He however said that a breath alcohol test was conducted on him and it showed that he had alcohol in his system.
But the senior cop admitted that he had consumed alcohol the night prior to the accident.
When asked by Prosecutor Bess, if he could have recalled the reading on the machine after the breathalyzer test was done, Thompson replied in the negative. He went on to explain that he had never used the machine before and did not know if it was in working order.
Questioned by the prosecutor as to whether he was involved in any other accident while on his way to the police station, Thompson said, “The only accident I was involved in was the accident on Broad Street.” He said that at no time did he speak to Constable Gillis at the Brickdam Police Station or behave disorderly while there.
MOTIVE
During a brief submission, Attorney Todd argued there was a motive behind the allegations leveled against his client, although he declined to speculate. Todd said that his client has refuted the evidence of Constable Gillis.
According to Todd, investigations into the matter were not in compliance with the standing orders of the Guyana Police Force—since his client was never told of the charge against him until he turned up in court and was never given the opportunity to gave a statement.
Todd pointed out that the Guyana Police Force Act makes provision for dealing with matters of this nature, but yet these procedures were not followed.
Earlier on in the trial, Constable Gillis strongly denied fabricating the story of being abused by ASP Thompson, in an effort to have him sacked from the Force.
Nevertheless, Prosecutor Bess submitted that the elements of the offence were proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that the evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses was not shaky.
ABUSIVE
It was Police Constable Nicholas Ingram, who told the court that ASP Thompson was abusive to Constable Gillis. Constables Gillis and Ingram are both stationed at the Brickdam Police Station and attached to the Court Superintendent’s Office.
During his evidence Constable Ingram told the court that ASP Thompson came out of the car and told Constable Gillis, “I don’t have no f#*@ing ID.” He stated that ASP Thompson then went back into the vehicle which prompted Constable Gillis to tap on the bonnet. Constable Ingram said that ASP Thompson handed over his driver’s licence and sometime after told Constable Gillis, “Yo Yo yuh done with my licence.”
Constable Ingram told the court that ASP Thompson began pointing his hands in the face of Gillis who demanded him to stop. He added that ASP Thompson said to Constable Gillis, “Yo Yo you know who is me? I would kill y’ll s*@*t right here. I would murder ya’ll and drop you down right here. If I had it, you (Gillis) wouldn’t have joined the force. He added that ASP Thompson continued, “Yo yo you ever shoot anybody? Call Brickdam, call TSU (Tactical Services Unit) and ask them about ASP Thompson.”
When instructed to driver to the Brickdam Police Station, Constable Ingram recounted that ASP Thompson sped off and narrowly avoided another accident between George and D’Urban Streets, Georgetown.
In addition, ASP Thompson was charged for making use of threatening language against (Hemchand) Boodhai. However, the charge against him was dismissed after Boodhai refused to testify.
This matter is set for ruling on October 30.
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