Five Officers Remanded for Murder of Gavin Douglas Who Died in Vreed-en-Hoop Custody
Five Guyanese police officers were remanded to prison Friday on murder charges after 32-year-old Gavin Douglas died in a Vreed-en-Hoop lock-up on October 31.
Five Officers Charged Over Death of Man in Police Lock-Up
Five police ranks were remanded to prison on Friday after being charged with the murder of Gavin Douglas, 32, who died while held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station lock-ups on West Coast Demerara, newsroom.gy reports.
The five accused — Tiansay Thomas, Wencill Marshall, Joel Newsom, Bevis Lyle and Ariff Haniff — are alleged to have murdered Douglas on October 31 at Vreed-en-Hoop. They appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where the murder charge was read to them. They were not required to enter a plea and were remanded. The case was adjourned to November 17, when it will be called at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrates' Court.
Douglas, of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, died at approximately 12:45 hrs on October 31 while in police custody. He had been arrested in connection with an alleged armed robbery on October 28 at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.
Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh conducted a post-mortem and determined that Douglas died from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma. Two Taser studs were recovered from his body and lodged as evidence.
His mother, Colette Jones — an inspector attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station — has demanded answers, stating she will not be intimidated or silenced as investigations proceed.
Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has called for a thorough, impartial and urgent investigation, stressing that the State has a responsibility to protect individuals while in custody. The Guyana Police Force has assured that appropriate action will be taken against any rank found responsible for wrongdoing.
The investigation was carried out by the Office of Professional Responsibility.
Source: Google News GY — Crime