Three weeks after Quindon Bacchus,23, was allegedly shot dead by a Policeman, Kristoff De Nobrega, the said rank, along with two of his colleagues were on Tuesday charged over the murder.
Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega, 22, of 130 Downer Canal, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown was charged with the capital offence of murder which occurred on June 10, at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Meanwhile, his colleagues Lance Corporal Thurston Simon, 24, of 1206 Bare Root, ECD and Sergeant Damieon Mc Lennon, 35, of 95 ‘B’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown each faced a charge for attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The trio appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Lance Corporal De Nobrega, who was not required to plead to the indictable charge, was remanded to prison until July 19. His case was transferred to the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
Lance Corporal Simon and Sergeant Mc Lennon, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to their charges, and were remanded until July 12 when they will make another appearance at the city court.
The prosecutor, in his address to the court, said there is no evidence to support the Policemen’s story that Bacchus shot at them since the gun that was allegedly found on the now dead man’s was non-functioning.
Lance Corporal Simon and Sergeant Mc Lennon allegedly give false statements to investigating ranks that his service weapon was not fired at the scene.
The prosecutor, however, told the court that the spent shells found at the scene of the shooting matched the firearm that was issued to him.
According to a Police press statement, Bacchus, a father of one of Golden Grove, ECD, was shot while reportedly attempting to sell a gun to Lance Corporal De Nobrega, an undercover Policeman.
Police Headquarters also noted that Bacchus reportedly shot at the Policeman who returned fire.
The Director of Public Prosecution after receiving the report and file on the fatal shooting from the Police Complaints Authority, advised the Police to institute charges against the trio.
The shooting death of Bacchus led to several protests on the ECD.
