Guyana Observer News

Off-duty cop cleared of fatal shooting outside bar

Saturday, 30 January 2010

-was acting in self-defence

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No disciplinary action will be taken against the policeman at the centre of the deadly fracas outside Roopa’s Bar last month since he was defending himself, according to Police Commissioner Henry Greene. Giving an update on the status of the investigation, Greene told Stabroek News that the file has been completed and was sent to the chambers of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice. Asked if the rank will be disciplined departmentally over his actions, Greene said no because “from investigations he was attacked and was defending himself.”

He added that investigations also revealed that the rank, “a young inspector of police,” used his service weapon and at the time of the incident was not working at the spot but rather socialising. Initially reports were that the rank was moonlighting as a bouncer.

The rank involved in the shooting is Greene’s personal assistant-a fact the commissioner acknowledged-and he stood a short distance away looking on during the interview.

The day after the incident, which left Hewley Nicholas Barker dead and Mark Caesar injured, police said that the two men pulled firearms and a round was discharged at the policeman who returned fire. Relatives of the men disputed this and called on the police to produce the guns.

Commenting on this, Greene explained that some of the men ran away after the shooting, including the ones who had the guns. He said that he was not sure if different types of spent shells were found at the scene.

From all accounts, on December 19 a party was being held at the Bar but because of a poor turnout, the promoter decided to have an open bar. Around 1:30 am, a young man entered the premises with a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and was told that he could not enter with it. This apparently angered the man who started using foul language, which later evolved into a scuffle outside the premises.

Police later said that the off duty rank was in the area when he observed a group of men arguing and behaving disorderly.

The policeman approached the group to warn them about their behaviour but one of the men pushed him aside and then ran away.

This man would have been the one who had earlier attempted to enter the Bar with the alcoholic beverage.

The man returned shortly after accompanied by Barker and Caesar and they assaulted the policeman, although he identified himself as a member of the Guyana Police Force.

During the confrontation, two of the men pulled firearms and fired at the policeman who returned fire, fatally wounding Barker and injuring Caesar, the police said. The other man managed to escape.

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