Police officer charged in death of businessman in Guyana
A member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Swat Unit was granted one million dollars (One Guyana dollar=US 0.004 cents) bail when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Friday charged with the death of an Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston, in September last year during a police operation.
Sherwin Peters was charged with manslaughter following the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and after almost four months of investigations by the GPF’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Police Complaints Authority.
Boston was in his home sleeping on September 15 last year when a group of SWAT Unit officers barged into the house, and one of the officers opened fire on him while he was still in his bed.
Boston’s family had disputed the police’s claims that he was shot during a confrontation and alleged that he was shot in his sleep.
The shooting death led to national outrage, and government ministers and senior police officers were sent to the community of Dartmouth to quell the protests and promise a thorough investigation.
Peters, who was not required to plead to the charge, appeared shaken when he appeared at the Magistrate’s Court. The matter was later transferred to the Magistrates’ Court, Anna Regina, on the Atlantic coast, northwest of the mouth of the Essequibo River.
The matter will come up on February 1.
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