Georgetown : The Guyana Police Force this afternoon responds to an article published in the Kaieteur News today under the caption “Police refuse alibi statements for accused cop killer” and which deals with investigations into the death of Police Corporal 20196 Romein Cleto.
The Guyana Police Force strongly denies that Shaka Chase, who has been charged with the murder of the policeman, was assaulted or tortured in any way while in police custody into admitting that he had committed the crime as is being alleged by relatives according to the article.
The incident in which Corporal Romein Cleto was shot and killed occurred at about 6:45pm on April 27, 2013, in the vicinity of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
The Police Force says the same day Shaka Chase went to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and told the police that he had received information that the police wanted him for the murder of the policeman. At that time police investigators were still processing the scene and interviewing persons and had no information as to any suspect. However, Shaka Chase was interviewed and his hands were swabbed and he was released on bail.
On May 15, 2013, the police got a statement from an eye-witness who identified Shaka Chase as one of the persons in the motor car immediately before the shooting. The eye-witness also stated that Shaka Chase was known to the eye-witness for several years.
The laboratory report subsequently received also indicated that the swab from Shaka Chase’s hands was positive for gunpowder residue.
Shaka Chase was rearrested at May 16, 2013. He was interviewed by police investigators who asked him to explain the gunpowder residue on his hands and also told him that an eye-witness had given a statement that he (Chase) was in the vehicle from which shots had been fired that killed Corporal Cleto.
On that day less than one hour after he was rearrested, Shaka Chase gave a confession statement in which he named three associates, one of whom had been arrested previously and swabs taken from his hands tested positive for gunpowder residue.
Information provided in his confession statement led to the seizure by the police of the motor vehicle used by them and a statement was taken from the owner of the vehicle who indicated that she gave Shaka Chase the vehicle for similar reasons as that provided in his confession statement.
On May 18, 2013, Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys indicated to a police officer that Shaka Chase had been assaulted by the police who immediately took Chase to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by a Medical Doctor who issued a medical certificate that there was no sign of injuries.
Yesterday at about 5:30pm Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes went to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with the matter and was told to return today, since there was no CID investigator at the Headquarters at the time.
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