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Five cops remanded over Gavin Douglas’ murder
(Kaieteur News) – Five police ranks were on Friday charged and remanded to prison for the murder of 32-year-old Gavin Kennard Douglas, who died while in police custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, West Coast Demerara, last Saturday.
The accused, Tiansay Thomas, Wencill Marshall, Joel Newsum, Bevis Lyle and Ariff Haniff, appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, where a joint capital charge was read to them.
The charge alleged that the peace officers murdered Douglas on 31st October, 2026, at Vreed-en-Hoop. They were not required to plead to the indictable offence and were subsequently remanded to prison.
Attorney Yuborn Allicock appeared for Thomas and Marshall, while Newsum was represented by attorneys Kiswana Jefford, Nigel Hughes and Tiffaine Rutherford. Haniff was represented by Shamar Britton and Meshawn Persaud.
The matter was adjourned to 17th November, 2026, when it will be called at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.
The five cops remanded on Friday for the murder of 32-year-old Gavin Douglas, (from left) Ariff Haniff, Bevis Lyle, Joel Newsum, Tiansay Thomas and Wencill Marshall.
Douglas, a labourer of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, died hours after being taken into custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.
He was arrested on 31st October in connection with an alleged robbery under arms committed three days earlier, on 28th October, at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.
According to the Guyana Police Force’s initial account, Douglas was escorted to the station at approximately 11:36 hrs. At about noon, while being placed in the lock-ups, he reportedly became aggressive and resisted police ranks.
He was subsequently restrained and placed in a cell.
Reana Douglas and her deceased brother Gavin Douglas
However, at approximately 12:45 hrs., during a routine check of the lock-ups, Douglas was reportedly found frothing at the mouth. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where police said he died while receiving medical attention.
The circumstances surrounding his death sparked public outrage, with relatives demanding answers and an explanation from the Guyana Police Force.
A post-mortem examination conducted on 2nd November by government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh found that Douglas died from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Two taser probes were also removed from his body during the examination and lodged as exhibits.
The findings came amid allegations by a man who was detained alongside Douglas that several police ranks had assaulted him while he was at the station.
The man, identified as 57-year-old Terence Kishore, told Big Smith News Watch that he was arrested alongside Douglas on New Road and taken to the station at approximately 11:20 hrs. on 31st October.
Kishore said that after arriving at the station, the two men were seated near the sergeant’s office. He recalled that Douglas repeatedly asked to make a telephone call to his family before being placed in the lock-ups.
According to Kishore, Douglas initially complied with the ranks but later refused an instruction to remove his clothing before entering the cell. He said Douglas remained in the cell in his clothes while continuing to ask to contact his mother.
Kishore alleged that within an hour of their arrival, four policemen retrieved Tasers from a cupboard and used them on Douglas. He further claimed that electrical wiring was used to tie Douglas’s hands behind his back.
The eyewitness said he subsequently heard Douglas shouting from the back of the building, but the noise suddenly stopped. He claimed that within approximately 20 minutes, Douglas was dead.
Kishore also alleged that after the incident, the uniforms of some ranks were stained with blood and human waste and that replacement jerseys were brought for them.
He further raised concerns about the station’s surveillance system, alleging that a sergeant spent approximately 25 minutes alone in the office housing the digital video recorder (DVR) system before the station commander arrived. He said more than 13 cameras were installed around the building.
Meanwhile, Douglas’s sister, Reanna Douglas, described him as a hardworking man who was devoted to his family.
She told Kaieteur News that police ranks had been monitoring her brother at a local gathering before intercepting him in a private, silver unmarked vehicle and directing him to drive to the station.
Reanna said that when she arrived at the station to check on her brother, she immediately sensed that something was wrong. She recalled that shortly afterwards, an ambulance left the compound with its sirens blaring.
She said relatives were subsequently informed at the West Demerara Regional Hospital that her brother was already dead when he was brought in.
The family also raised concerns about his personal belongings, including gold jewellery and cash, which they claimed were not properly accounted for by the police.
Douglas’s mother, Colette Jones, an inspector attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, has also been demanding answers about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
As the matter drew public attention, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond promised a thorough, impartial and urgent investigation.
The minister said that the State had a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of persons once they were taken into custody and assured that the allegations would not be ignored.
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) launched an investigation into the death, while the Guyana Police Force subsequently confirmed that several ranks had been arrested as investigators widened their probe.
The Force had also assured that appropriate action would be taken against any rank found responsible for wrongdoing.
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these guys need to be given a good trashing by members of the public in the public and given 100 lashes by members of the public to teach these police men a lesson they will always remember,