Policeman gets 25 years for killing Orin Boston

Jul 11, 2025 News

Sentenced: Former SWAT rank, Sherwin Peters

Kaieteur News – Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) constable, Sherwin Peters has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the killing of Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston back in 2021.

The police constable who is originally from Amelia’s Ward, Linden was indicted for manslaughter over Boston’s death in 2021. At Peters’ first court appearance, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on September 15, 2021, at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he shot and killed Boston.

Peters was charged with manslaughter months after it was reported that he was on a police operation searching for ‘illegal substances’ at Boston’s Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast home. Boston, who was reportedly still in his bed at the time of the shooting, was shot once in the chest with a high-calibre rifle. A subsequent autopsy report revealed that Boston died as a result of a gunshot injury to the left side of his chest.

Residents had mounted protest action on the Essequibo Coast over the shooting. Four months after Boston’s killing, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, recommended that the rank be charged with manslaughter.

Following the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter, Magistrate Esther Sam ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Peters to stand trial for manslaughter before a judge and jury. Peters was committed to stand trial by at the Suddie Magistrates’ Court in 2022.

Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston

On Thursday, the former cop was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon following his trial weeks after he was found guilty at the Essequibo High Court. At the sentencing, it was noted that the operation carried out by 12 heavily-armed SWAT officers, targeted two houses within the same compound but was executed without a search warrant, arrest warrant, or any lawful authority—circumstances that drew sharp condemnation from the trial judge.

“The actions of Peters were unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified, disproportionate and excessive,” Justice Sandil Kissoon declared during sentencing. “The resort to lethal force was without any basis against an unarmed man asleep in his bed.” The judge further pointed out that there were no mitigating circumstances in the case.

State Counsel for the office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Defence attorney at the sentencing hearing, Keoma Griffith had agreed on a starting sentence of 10 years; however, neither side presented any evidence to support this recommendation during the hearing.

The State prosecutor Latifah Elliot referenced a lawsuit filed by Boston’s widow against the State for the unlawful killing, noting that compensation had been paid to her. The prosecutor urged the court to consider this as a mitigating factor. However, the judge clarified that while Guyanese law allows compensation to be considered in mitigation, in this instance, the payment was made by taxpayers, which affected his view on its mitigating value. The judge therefore rejected the idea that this compensation held significant mitigating value because it was not paid by the offender, Sherwin Peters, but instead by the State. Fiona Boston, wife of the deceased, had stated that it has been a challenge for her and her two children since her husband died. Peters’ trial commenced on June 17, 2025 during which approximately 25 witnesses took the stand.

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Essequibo businessman, High Court, killing, Orin Boston, police, sentence, Sherwin Peters, SWAT

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