November 29. 2005
The Police said they are investigating four murders which took place over the weekend, and have arrested three persons.
The Police reported that 32-year-old Eon Fraser of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara was murdered at Norton Street, Georgetown about 22:00 h Saturday. Fraser was pursued by a man who discharged several rounds at him from a firearm, one of which struck him in the abdomen. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Up to press time no arrests were made.
In the second murder, Police said Brazilian miner, Eboras Barbosa, 27, was stabbed to death at about 21:30 h Sunday at Aranapai Landing, Mazaruni. Investigations so far, reveal that Barbosa and his co-workers were at a liquor shop when an argument broke out among them. It is alleged that his assailant intervened, and a scuffle ensued with Barbosa, during which he was fatally stabbed with a knife. The suspect remains at large.
In the third murder, the headless body of Khalidas Surjnarine, 74, an overseas based Guyanese, was found in his yard at Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, at about 06:30 h Sunday. The Police said investigations so far reveal that Surjnarine had arrived in the country on Saturday and was staying alone at the house.
The house was ransacked and it is suspected that articles were stolen. The body is at the Port Mourant Mortuary awaiting post mortem examination. Two men and a woman have been arrested and are in Police custody assisting with the investigations.
Meanwhile, the Police are also investigating the suspected murder of Kenrick Benfield, 23, of Haslington North, East Coast Demerara. Police reported that marks of violence were observed on the body which was found about 08:30 h Sunday in an abandoned bond at the Nabaclis Drainage Pump Compound, East Coast Demerara. The corpse is at Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting a post mortem examination. (Guyana Cronicle)
Weekend crimes
The Police on Saturday, through quick and alert responses, along with support from the public, were able to recover four firearms, one of which was stolen from a Police rank, and arrest six men who are most likely involved in criminal activities. The Police said they are also investigating several armed robberies committed over the weekend.
They also conducted a drug eradication exercise at 14 Miles Ituni, Berbice River on Saturday and destroyed a marijuana farm. A field of five acres of cultivated marijuana plants, averaging five feet in height was found. This amounted to about 25,000 plants weighing approximately 2,500 kgs. Fifty kgs of dried marijuana and two nurseries, comprising 10,000 plants, were also found. The marijuana was destroyed by burning.
The Police also searched four camps nearby and found a Brazilian made 28 gauge shotgun along with a live .38 round; one .38 spent shell, and nineteen 12 gauge cartridges, one Stihl power saw and one water pump. The articles have been taken into Police custody, but no arrests were made.
In another incident, the Police arrested a man after an unlicensed firearm find. They were on mobile patrol at Rock Stone Road, Wismar, when they saw a man throwing an object in some bushes and responded and found an unlicensed weapon.
In Berbice, Police arrested two bandits following an armed robbery on Saturday night at a business premises.
The Police said about 19:30 h Saturday, businessman, Sakujnauth Stanley, 43, and his wife Roshany Stanley, 37, were attacked at their home at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, by four gunmen. Stanley was about to close his shop when the bandits rushed in and held him at gun point. The robbers then took him upstairs into the house where they also held his wife and two sons Andrew, 19, and David, 14, and demanded cash, which was handed over.
During the robbery, Sakujnauth Stanley had a scuffle with one of the bandits whom he recognized, and he was beaten. His wife was also assaulted by the bandits who used their gun butts on her. Later, the four bandits confronted Taron Persaud, 38, a labourer, and Chandia Gobin, 37, a cane harvester, who were sitting on a koker. They attacked the men, took away a wallet containing EC$5 and an identification card and bicycle valued $10,000 and escaped.
That same evening, a Police patrol stopped and searched two men walking along the Bath Settlement Public Road and found the stolen wallet with the money. The duo were arrested.
Meanwhile, about 19:35 h Saturday, Godfrey Ralph, 17, a Student of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam was under his house with four friends when five men entered the yard. Three of them were armed with handguns and the others with cutlasses. They held the youths at gun point and relieved them of $45,000 in cash, a DVD player, one cellular phone and one disc man. The bandits escaped before the Police was summoned. (Michel Outridge/Guyana Cronicle)
November 24. 2005
Closer Police-Army fight against crime
TOP OF THE CLASS: Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presents best student Rayon King with the Sword of Honour. (Winston Oudkerk photo)
THE government is hoping to have the current joint Police-Army operations evolve into a more coherent, better coordinated and better resourced entity to address national crime and security considerations, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds announced yesterday.
This approach, he said, is “warranted, appropriate and timely” but the need might arise to “convince some” that this is indeed so and that the “Joint Services concept” is critical and important to addressing the national security considerations of Guyana.
“What this administration hopes to achieve…is to further the concept and growing reality of the Joint Services and its continuous evolution into a more coherent, more coordinated, better organised, better resourced entity for addressing the national security considerations of the state,” the Prime Minister announced.
NEW OFFICERS: Prime Minister Samuel Hinds congratulates a member of the batch of newly-commissioned GDF officers yesterday. (Winston Oudkerk photo)
Alluding to the crime scourge that has been plaguing Guyana and eating away at the very fabric of the Guyanese society in recent few years, Prime Minister Hinds said this has increased the recognition that traditional civilian and law enforcement methods, approaches and facilities are being severely challenged. This, the acting President said, underscores the critical need and importance of the Joint Services concept.
Addressing the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) commissioning parade of the Standard Officers’ Course Number 38 on the Drill Square of the Army’s Camp Ayanganna headquarters yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister noted that this observation is not uniquely Guyanese since criminal activities are becoming matters of national security all across the world.
“This administration has resorted to the Joint Services concept to address (certain) circumstances that will threaten the nation and the lives of Guyanese,” Mr Hinds told the large gathering. In order to improve and enhance the efficacy of the Joint Services, he noted that there are obviously challenges that will have to be recognised, met and overcome if Guyana is to continue on the road of perfecting the Joint Services concept and making it increasingly relevant to address issues of safety and security.
Mr Hinds also recalled that the first instances of joint activities involving the GDF and the Police Force “may have been approached in an ad hoc arrangement” but said the sustained prevalence of certain categories of criminal activities has clearly established the need to gradually institutionalise “this Joint Services arrangement and direct our efforts to enhancing the abilities and the capacities of the Joint Services”.
“We will continue to work at the level of the individual entities and with other stakeholders on improving the concept and the practice of a joint service and refining its organisation, its structure and its coordination, its functioning, its maintenance and its role in addressing national security issues.”
“We will also work with external agencies, our bilateral partners and with our CARICOM (Caribbean Community) sister (countries) that have all had experiences in resorting to similar such arrangements to deal with the evolving and newly emerging threats to personal safety and national security in the community and their nation,” he added.
He said, too, that the aim of the administration at this time is for the Joint Services to be built on “a foundation as solid as the one that contributed to the separate tradition of the Army, the Police, the Prisons and the Fire (services)” – which are the component entities in the Disciplined Forces in Guyana.
“This is our ambition; (and) it is our expectation that with such a concept and with such a focus, the component entities of the Disciplined Forces will remain relevant (and) our end point is to see the concept of the Joint Services evolve with an institutional arrangement that carries with it sustained effectiveness and ultimately the force of law founded on a solid bedrock of achievement and tradition.”
Mr Hinds noted that there are glaring examples where the Joint Services approaches in Guyana have yielded positive results so far. “The Joint Services concept is something we (the government) can see ourselves pursuing,” the Prime Minister added. The importance of this concept was further emphasised by Army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins, who urged the newly commissioned officers to “live up to the tradition of serving as a vehicle for furthering and deepening the Joint Services concept”.
Collins also urged the other Heads of the Joint Services to contribute towards keeping the “Joint Services spirit alive”. The Army and Police were involved in the massive anti-crime `Operation Stiletto’ in the criminal safe haven in Buxton, East Coast Demerara last month. Some 400 soldiers and police were deployed in and around the village for several days in a sweep for criminals and arms and ammunition. (Mark Ramotar/Guyana Cronicle)
November 23. 2005
Alonzo was called upon on Monday to say under what circumstances he gave statements to the police in the matter. This was after Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes ruled in the voir dire that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case in relation to three statements Alonzo made.
Alonzo, 29, allegedly murdered Douglas on March 1, 2003 when a police vehicle intercepted the one he was in. State counsel Donelle Harding cross-examined Alonzo while Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos re-examined him.
The trial was adjourned to Thursday after De Santos asked the court for leave to call Mahendra Baijnauth to give evidence in the voir dire. Baijnauth was also charged with the murder of Douglas but was subsequently discharged following a High Court challenge. (Stabroek News)
November 20. 2005
DIED TRYING TO HELP: Curtis JamesCURTIS James, the bank guard who was shot dead Friday after he willingly offered to escort two businessmen scared of bandits, will be buried Wednesday, his grieving widow said yesterday. But she has not yet heard from the men he died protecting.
The guard, 31, was killed while attempting to help two businessmen deposit money at the Bank of Baroda where he was on duty.
The widow, Phyllis James, said R.K’s Guyana Security Service with which he was employed will be handling all funeral expenses. However, the businessmen her husband was reportedly trying to help are yet to contact her.
“Nobody tried contacting me and this is Saturday night already”, she said.
According to reports, James was shot by one of two men lurking outside the bank on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, after agreeing to escort the two businessmen who had arrived in a vehicle to deposit G$1.8M.
James, of 15 Dowding Street, Kitty, was shot in the lower abdomen causing internal damage to his intestines and an artery. He died while undergoing emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
His wife last night said the family was still trying to cope with the loss of a dedicated father, and a gentle and caring person. She added that he was the type of person who always hard-working on the job and it came as no surprise that he lost his life helping others.
The couple would have celebrated their third wedding anniversary in two weeks. When she spoke to this newspaper on Friday, Phyllis said they were planning to make a cake and have a nice little celebration to mark the occasion. (Guyana Cronicle)
November 17. 2005
Four suspected gang members killed in shootout with UN troops in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Four suspected gang members died following an intense shootout with a detachment of Brazilian UN peacekeepers in a troubled neighborhood in the Haitian capital, UN officials said Wednesday.
Colonel El Ouafi Boulbars, a spokesman for the UN mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), said four armed individuals had opened fire Tuesday on a UN peacekeeping patrol near the Port-au-Prince international airport.
Boulbars said the UN peacekeepers returned fire on the suspected gang members and noted that over 200 troops were mobilised to flush out the assailants in an intense operation lasting more than eight hours. Some 30 people were subsequently arrested by UN peacekeepers, including three women, he said.
Four other suspected gang members were also reportedly killed Monday in another neighborhood, but Boulbars was unable to confirm the incident. Over 7,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti after former president Jean Bertrand Aristide fled the country amid an armed uprising in February 2004. (Caribbean Net News)
November 16. 2005
President meets relatives of victim
DEAD: Carl Anthony AbramsPRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has requested a copy of the police report into the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Carl Anthony Abrams which yesterday stirred mounting protests on the East Coast Demerara.
He last night met grieving relatives while on a visit to Ann’s Grove, also on the East Coast, who said they are seeking justice against the “unlawful killing”.
Mr Jagdeo, after sympathising with them, asked Police Divisional Commander Leroy Brummel to ensure that all the statements are taken by today and the report submitted by tomorrow morning. The President said he will meet the relatives again after receiving the report.
Mr Brummel said an impartial investigation has been launched into the shooting and the policeman involved is under close arrest. He also urged residents with information to talk to investigators. Abrams was shot Sunday night while he was sitting in front of a friend’s yard not far from where he lived on the Nabaclis Side Line Dam, East Coast Demerara.
More than 100 residents of the village yesterday protested outside the Police divisional headquarters at Cove and John, carrying placards and shouting that the young man was wrongfully killed. Brummel told reporters that as a father he knows how the bereaved family is feeling and extended condolences to them.
“I am listening to both sides”, he said.
REPORT REQUESTED: President Bharrat Jagdeo talking to grief-stricken relatives of Carl Abrams last night. (Delano Williams photo)
The villager was shot in the abdomen and died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Brummel stressed that prior to the shooting incident he never received any report against the policeman regarding his conduct.
The police in a press release said that on Sunday between 18:00 h and 18:45 h, Abrams was wounded by police gunfire at Nabaclis Side Line Dam.
The police said a fellow villager had made a report of a gun threat by Abrams and the complainant was being chased by Abrams when he met the armed policeman in the area. The release said, that on seeing the two men together, Abrams fired a round in their direction and they both took evasive action and the cop returned fire, hitting Abrams in the abdomen.
Regarding the weapon the policeman was armed with, the police said he was authorised to carry a firearm but not for 24 hours a day and he was on duty when the incident occurred. The gun Abrams allegedly had has not been found. Residents maintained that Abrams was not troublesome and he did not have a gun as the police claimed.
“He (the policeman) rob my child father of $500 and then he go and shoot that boy (Abrams); he did not deserve to die like that and he was not a criminal,” one resident cried yesterday holding a placard during the protest. (Guyana Cronicle/Michel Outridge and Renu Raghubhir)
Rustlers open fire on Police
Cattle rustlers opened fire on police who held a fellow rustler at Lesbeholden in Berbice on Monday. Police said they however fled after their rescue bid failed and their comrade and the cattle he was caught rounding up are in police custody.
Police said that acting on information about suspected cattle rustling, ranks on Monday afternoon went to Lesbeholden in Black Bush Polder where they confronted a man on horseback rounding up several heads of cattle. The cops found him with a 12-gauge shotgun and arrested him, police said.
Shortly after, two other men rode up on horses and fired several rounds at the Police, but the ranks took cover and returned fire forcing the men to flee. (Guyana Cronicle)
Cop on abduction charge
Arjune Persaud of Johanna Cecelia was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was released on $40,000 bail by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. It is alleged that Persaud on April 19 at Georgetown abducted Otis Grant with intent to secretly confine him.
An arrest warrant was issued for Persaud's alleged accomplice Raul George by Magistrate Sullivan.
The defence counsel stated that the incident occurred while her client was in the execution of his duties. She told the court that the policeman is a husband and father and poses no flight risk. Counsel later asked the court for her client to go on his own bail in the circumstances.
Police prosecutor Robert Clement in reply told the court that he was not objecting to bail but there must be some attachment. The matter continues on December 12. (Stabroek News)
November 12. 2005
Arrest 18 women who would travel to Suriname
Santo Domingo.– Migration authorities detained 18 Dominican women who tried to leave for Suriname before they could get on board of a flight at Las Americas National Airport. According to official sources, the women never attended the Suriname Consulate for visas, but they got them from a person who sells them.
11 of the 18 women said that the contract stated they would work as dancers in nightclubs, while the rest would work as housekeepers in that country. (Dominican today)
POLICE have launched a manhunt for five convicted prisoners who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison between 02:00 h and 03:00 h yesterday and members of the public are being urged to be on the lookout since the men are reportedly armed and considered dangerous.
Those who escaped are:
 |  |  |
| Walter R. Wong | Otis Daniels | Harry Holder |
Walter Ronald Wong, 20, of Queenstown, Essequibo. He is 5' 5" tall, thin built and brown complexion and was serving three sentences of three years, one month and four years for narcotics. His sentences were running concurrently.
Harry Holder, 29, of Broomes’ Ville, Mabaruma. He is 5' 5" tall, medium built and brown in complexion. Police said he was serving an 18-month sentence for larceny;
Anthony Macey, 18, of 181 Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown. He is 5' 7” tall, dark complexion, and medium built. Police said he was serving eight years for manslaughter;
Otis Daniels, 20, of Parika Railway embankment, East Bank Essequibo. He is 5' 7" tall; thin built and brown in complexion. Police said he was serving two sentences of 18 months and three years, respectively, for narcotics and break & enter and larceny.
Alvin Samaroo, 22, called “Killer.” He is of Ogalton Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam. He is 5' 7" tall, thin built, brown complexion, with a scar on his face. He was serving two sentences of five years for robbery under arms and 18 months for attempt to commit a felony. His sentences were running consecutively
Anyone with information which may lead to the capture of these prisoners is asked to make contact with the Police on telephone numbers: 225-6411, 227-2685, 226-6978, 911, 225-2227 or 226-1326.
“A” Division: 226-1389, 226-7065, 227-1270, 227-1149 or 225-3064.
“B” Division: 333-3876, 333-2191 or 333-2151.
“C” Division: 229-2289, 229-2569, 222-2557 or 229-2700
“D” Division: 268-2343, 268-2298 or 268-2223
E&F Division: 444-3406, 444-3274, 777-5007, 255-2722 or 226-61333
“G” Division: 771-4010, 771-4012 or 771-4222.
Additionally, persons can call the nearest Police Station to where any of the fugitives may have been sighted. (Guyana Cronicle)
November 11. 2005
Guyanese gets 20 years for sex with Antiguan minor
Justice Errol Thomas sentenced Colin Lewis last Friday for committing the unlawful act against a girl of less than 14 years of age. It is reported that Lewis had sex with the girl for the first time when she was 10-years old. This incident is reported to have occurred between 1 and 31 Oct., 2002. A second incident is alleged to have occurred on 28 Oct., 2004 when she was 12 years.
Justice Thomas sentenced Lewis to 18 years on the first count and two years on the second count consecutively. According to reports, the mother of the minor, on occasions, had sent her to live with Lewis while she was in another place. The girl often complained that she did not like staying with Lewis.
The sexual relationship was discovered, when a neighbour overheard a conversation between some children and notified the child's grandmother. Lewis, who was represented by attorney John Fuller, was found guilty on 17 Oct. Joanne Walsh prosecuted the case. (Antiqua Sun)
Three prisoners killed in shootout
THREE prisoners who broke out of the Wismar Police Station in Linden on Wednesday night, died in a shootout with cops in a creek off the Linden/Soesdyke Highway after a prolonged battle, police said last night.
Police identified the three as Peter Grannum, 30, of Lethem; Wexler Douglas, called ‘Cuttie’, 31, of Wismar Housing Scheme, and Anthon Smartt, called `Corn Man’, 27, of 103 Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown.
Grannum had been charged with alleged unlawful possession of a motorcycle, Douglas with alleged murder and Smartt with alleged robbery under arms, police said.The three escaped from the lockups between 16:00 h and 22:40 h on Wednesday by cutting protective grill on the lockups in the police station.
Police said they were in a cell with two other prisoners and bound and gagged one of the others before cutting through the iron bars with a hack saw that was left in the cell.After they were discovered missing, police said they launched a manhunt but came under fire about 07:00 h yesterday at Bamia Creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
The police returned fire and Grannum is suspected to have been shot in the creek but his body had not been recovered up to last night.Smartt and Douglas slipped away further into the backlands pursued by the police and at about 16:15 h, the cops engaged Douglas and he too was shot. Police said he died before receiving medical attention. About 30 minutes later, in the same area, Smartt was also shot dead and he too died before receiving medical attention, police said. A police press release said the guns the three had have not been recovered and are believed to be in the creek.
During the operation, police said they came across the decomposed body of a man in an unattended camp in the Bamia backlands. The man has been identified as an errant vendor known as Walter and ‘Dominican’ and the body was taken to the Linden Hospital Mortuary, police said.
Sources said Linden police who went after the three escapees, came under heavy gunfire and a Tactical Services Unit (TSU) squad in about three pickups was dispatched to the area from Georgetown. At one stage in the search, police were reportedly forced to back off under the withering fire from the trio.
Police from Georgetown are investigating the breakout. The men appeared in court at Christianburg on Wednesday and were to reappear yesterday facing various charges. Douglas was facing a charge of murdering a young woman earlier this year at an internet café in Linden.
Police are trying to determine how the men, after escaping, were able to arm themselves with high calibre weapons and to defend themselves to the extent that the cops had to call in reinforcements from Georgetown. The three, by 17:30 h yesterday, were whisked to the Mackenzie Hospital and curious onlookers gathered outside as they were pronounced dead on arrival.
From the Mackenzie Hospital the bodies were taken away in the back of a police pickup across to the Wismar Hospital mortuary. Prisoners also escaped from the Wismar lockups earlier this year. (Guyana Cronicle/Joe Chapman)
November 09. 2005
Chinese Landing man in court over arrow murder
Aubrey Creame
According to reports, Creame and Daniels were consuming alcohol at a shop in Chinese Landing, when an argument ensued between them. It was at this point that Creame allegedly armed himself with the weapon, aimed it at Daniels and delivered the deadly shot.
Creame, who was not represented by an attorney, appeared quite calm as Magistrate Sullivan read the murder charge to him. He was not required to plead.
This matter will continue in the Acquero Magistrate's court, Moruka River on January 10, 2006. Until then, Creame will have to remain incarcerated, as bail was refused by Sullivan. (Stabroek News)
Vegas taxi driver murder PI delayed
Martin Conelly
Two special constables who were charged with murdering Vegas taxi driver Martin Conelly as well as stealing his car might have to wait a bit longer for their preliminary inquiry (PI) to begin. The case has not been able to move forward since an arrest warrant is still out for their alleged accomplice.
Colin Fraser, 25, of 24 James Street, Albouystown and Mark Henry, 32, of Lot 86 La Penitence Street, Albouystown were accused of murdering Conelly between June 21 and 22. It is also alleged that the duo between June 21 and 24 stole Conelly's AT192 motor-car.
An arrest warrant is still out for the duo's alleged accomplice Gawreshram Pooran called 'Ravi'. According to reports, Conelly's body was found with his eyes blindfolded and hands and feet bound. The body was found face down in a pool of water at the back of Le Repentir with a gaping hole at the back of his head. A bicycle was found nearby. After the battered body was discovered, the car was reported missing by its owner.
It is alleged that the three accused hijacked the car and took it to Adventure, on the Essequibo Coast. The police acting on information went to the house and found the car. The two were later arrested and charged with the present offences. Attorney-at-law Hukumchand who represented the two told the court that it is an indictable matter and it can't go on in the absence of one of the accused.
The defence counsel later asked the court to squash the proceedings against his clients since the case is being put off all the time owing to the absence of the other accused.
Police prosecutor Lloyd Thomas informed the court that he received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to proceed against the two who are in custody. He stated that as such the charge against them will have to be amended. The duo will return to court on Friday. (Stabroek News)
Some depositions in Yohance Douglas case missing
Yohance Douglas
Justice Gregory-Barnes made this revelation while Detective Corporal John Cummings was under cross-examination by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. De Santos had sought the court's indulgence to have Cummings reserved for further cross-examination in the trial for the purpose of showing the witness a document which he thought was missing. It was at this stage that Justice Barnes indicated that some of the witnesses' depositions were missing.
Alonzo, 29, allegedly murdered Douglas on March 1, 2003 when a police vehicle intercepted the one that Douglas was in. Another policeman was charged jointly with Alonzo but his committal was later quashed following a High Court challenge.
Under examination, Cummings said that about 7.30 am on March 1, 2003 he spoke to the constables in the office at Fountain Base, Eve Leary. He told them that he would be leaving for Berbice to perform duties and Mahendra Baijnauth, the other policeman who had been charged with the murder would be in charge of the team on that day. "I told them that if they received any information in relation to any person in connection with criminal activities, they are to report same to the office immediately. I also told them that if they come under attack by any of these persons, they are to contact the office and call for back-up", said Cummings.
Cummings who is stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, Eve Leary and attached to the fraud section said that back in 2003, he was a Lance Corporal stationed at Fountain Base. According to him, he was Lance Corporal and subordinate officer in charge of Section one which was made up of Alonzo and three other ranks.
On March 1, 2003, section one worked in the morning and Alonzo was part of section one on that day. Cummings said that he was detailed to perform duties in Berbice on that same day. The Fountain Base was established on June 6, 2002. "Our duty was to receive information on the five escapees who got away from the Georgetown Prison and other persons involved in criminal activities" said Cummings.
During the cross-examination by De Santos, Cummings stated that the bullet proof vests that the ranks wore were marked 'POLICE' with easily readable letters. He said that sometimes information was relayed to patrols from the office. He also said that it is appropriate for a patrol to pull up alongside a vehicle and for its members to identify themselves as police and request the car to stop. "If the car refuses to stop, each officer will use whatever way they know to take steps to get the vehicles to stop" said Cummings. Cummings usually drove the CRV but on March 1, 2003, he did not drive it.
De Santos had made an application for the deposition to be shown to the witness when it is available, but the judge then learnt that the document was in court and the cross-examination continued with De Santos making references to Cummings' deposition. State counsel Donelle Harding then called Adrian Simon, a police officer based at the La Grange Police Station but who was stationed at CID headquarters in March 2003. He said that on March 1, 2003 at around 10:15 am he received certain information.
As a result, he went to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he made inquiries. He then proceeded to the GPHC mortuary where he saw a body. On examining the body he observed abrasions on the right knee, a hole in the back and a plaster on the navel. The body was that of a male. Simon then saw the body on March 5, 2003 at the GPHC mortuary. He also said that on that day, the body was identified to him and Dr. Nehaul Singh as that of Yohance Douglas.
Paul Broomes and Collin Roach identified the body to him. After that, Dr. Singh conducted the post-mortem and the body was handed over to the relatives. On March 10, 2003 Simon was present at the Beterverwagting cemetery where he witnessed the burial of the deceased. A report was then prepared on the post-mortem and Simon uplifted it from the office of Dr. Singh and then lodged it at the CID headquarters. Under cross-examination by De Santos, Simon told the court that he did not know Douglas, Broomes nor Roach.
The court heard that the deceased Douglas, Ronson Grey, O'neil King, Quacy Heywood and Randolph Goodluck were travelling in PHH 8115 along Sheriff Street when a green CRV pulled up alongside the vehicle that they were in.
A man in the CRV was seen pointing a gun at the car, a gunshot was then heard and thereafter Grey was seen bleeding and lost control of the car. The car was then commandeered by King who managed to stop the car. From the time Grey lost control of the car to the time it was brought to a halt, several other gunshots were heard. The case will continue today. (Stabroek News/Afeefah Stuart)
November 03. 2005
Record drug bust in Mosjøen
Customs officials announced Thursday that they have confiscated drugs worth tens of millions of Norwegian crowns, and what is likely the biggest cocaine bust in the country's history. Customs officials at Mo in the Helgeland police district in northern Norway said the find was uncovered during a routine check of the South American ship "Crusader" at the Elkem Aluminium quay in Mosjøen on Wednesday evening.
Police station chief Anbjørn Falkmo at Mosjøen said the bust made "the NOKAS robbery look like small change". The NOKAS robbery is Norway's most high profile crime and the criminals, currently on trial, made off with around NOK 60 million (USD 9.3 million).
"We will give no further comments until the press conference this afternoon," Falkmo told Norwegian news bureau NTB.
Newspaper Helgeland Arbeiderblad reported that operations were ongoing Thursday, and that the area around the quay had been cordoned off, and only Elkem employees were allowed access.
Plant director Harald Bentzen at Elkem Aluminium Mosjøen said that the discovery had come as a "reasonably large surprise".
"We know this ship, which regularly delivers aluminum dioxide to our quay," Bentzen said. (
Winston Murray
A RASTAFARIAN food vendor was found shot dead yesterday morning, an apparent victim of bandits who were on the run after robbing a resident at Buck Hill, Wismar in Linden.
Winston Murray, 33, formerly of Belmont, Mahaica, died from a bullet that hit him in the left shoulder and went through his back, police sources said. He lived with his reputed wife in the Wismar Housing Scheme but occasionally slept in a shop they were building at Buck Hill and was there early yesterday morning when he apparently confronted the fleeing bandits.
A Buck Hill resident said three masked gunmen attacked and robbed him of $46,000, a gold chain, a ring and foodstuff after midnight Tuesday. He said he was sleeping when the men burst into his apartment. The terrified man said one snatched his gold chain and wanted to chop off his finger to get the ring he was also wearing.
He said he begged his attackers to allow him to bite off the ring or use soap to get it for them. He said he was able to take it off after which they asked him for money. The victim recalled that he offered to hand over his bank book but the bandits threatened to shoot him in the head and he quickly directed them to a drawer where he had $46,000 in cash. Still crying after his ordeal yesterday morning, the man said the trio tied him up and left but he managed to crawl away and hide.
He related that he freed himself and at about 06:00 h, he came out and was tracing the tracks of the bandits when he saw what appeared to be some of his stolen foodstuff. He said he then followed the footsteps along a path which led him to the lifeless body of the murdered Rasta with some of the dead man's belongings outside the shop. Other persons were alerted and neighbours said they had heard what sounded like a gunshot but were too afraid to leave their homes to investigate.
They said it appeared that the bandits were fleeing after robbing the other man and were apparently seen by Murray which led to his fatal shooting. Police said it appeared that Murray was shot and killed after he managed to unmask one of the three gunmen in a scuffle. They said the mask was found near the body. (Guyana Cronicle/Joe Chapman)
Buxton anti-crime operation not over
Security officials stress
Camping out in the back lands during `Operation Stiletto’.
They said sustained patrols will be maintained in Buxton, backed up by quick response units in case of any eventuality in the village in which an unprecedented operation began just more than a week ago to clean it of criminals and illegal weapons and ammunition.
The camp for ‘Operation Stiletto’ launched by some 400 soldiers and policemen at the Friendship Community Centre Ground has been dismantled, but those who fear that criminal activities could resume with the pullout, need not panic for the Joint Services are prepared for any eventualities, a senior security official told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.
Joint Services spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police John Sauers said that contrary to reports in another daily newspaper yesterday, patrols by the Army and Police would not only be by night, but by day as well, and these will be continuous.
The Joint Services have reconfigured the troops to “deal with any eventuality in the Buxton village”, he said. “To that end there are mobile patrols, both day and night, in the community and its environs.” In addition, Sauers said, the Joint Services have “quick reaction units that are located in Georgetown and on the East Coast Demerara that can adequately respond to any situation at Buxton at extremely short notice”.
There are “sufficient numbers” of troops “to deal with any situation if it arises and there are adequate resources for backup if necessary”, he assured. Sauers said the Joint Services command “would like to reassure the citizens of Buxton that efforts are continuously being made to locate and apprehend criminal elements where ever they may be.”
The people of Buxton, who Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira said have lived under siege in the three years the criminals occupied the village after the February 23, 2002 Georgetown prison break when five dangerous men escaped, need not panic, a security official said. Meanwhile, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier General Edward Collins said the Joint Services are still following leads in the discovery of a `Zodiac’ inflatable boat at a house in Buxton on Saturday.
Troops in the continuing anti-crime operation came across the boat and a Police source had told the Guyana Chronicle it appears that it belonged to criminals using the village as a safe haven. The air boat was found in a house once occupied by Shaka Blair, who was killed in April 2002 by Police who said he opened fire when presented with a warrant to search his house for arms.
According to the Police source, the house was seemingly occupied by criminals and the manner in which the boat was found along with two mattresses and a ladder, gave the impression that whoever occupied the building left in a hurry. `Operation Stiletto’ did not yield any weapon or ammunition find, and only one of the more than 100 persons arrested is still in Police custody. (Guyana Cronicle)
November 02. 2005
UK crack convict handed stiff fine
Lincoln White
Lincoln White, who also imported cocaine through Panama and Mexico, was jailed for running a UK-wide drug distribution network that saw him supplying almost all of Scotland's crack cocaine, according to the Daily Record a daily newspaper in Scot-land.
He heard he would have to hand over the money or face more years in prison last Friday at the Kingston Crown Court in London.
The newspaper said it was estimated that White's business was worth over 170 million pounds and it quoted the National Criminal Intelligence Service as saying White was, "one of the top five criminals operating in the UK."
The man converted the drug into crack and had his domestic couriers supply the whole of Britain. White, who claimed to be a barber, was said to be to crack supply what Ford is to car production.
"It was an extremely well-run operation which caused major headache for the authorities," a source told the newspaper. He was convicted in April 2004 after being caught with 10.9 kilos of crack hidden in a bag, the largest such find in the UK. Other members of his gang were sent down for a total of 103 years.