Suspected bandits were executed on Georgetown seawall: Eyewitness

Georgetown: Police had executed the three suspected bandits at the Kingston Seawall two weeks ago and there was no fierce gun battle, according to an eyewitness who was a laborer working on the roof of the Guyana Softball Association on March 15 at the time of the killings.

This was revealed during a press conference facilitated by Prominent Attorney Nigel Hughes at his Hadfield Street, Georgetown office on Monday.

The eyewitness, Devon Lyte armed with a signed statement was taken to CID Headquarters by Nigel Hughes on Monday where it was submitted. Hughes said his services were retained Sunday evening.

Dead are 46-year-old Dextroy Cordis called Dutty of Grove, East Bank Demerara; Kwame Assanah of Buxton, East Coast Demerara; and 57-year-old Errol Adams also known as Dynamite of Buxton, ECD. The police said in a statement that the men had trailed a customer from a commercial bank.

The eyewitness who was also working with two other men on the roof said it was just before middy when he noticed that the Police had blocked off the road at the top of Camp Street.

Moments later, he said sounds of gunshots rang out and upon looking across to the seawalls, he saw two cars driving along the seawall road.

“A black car was in front and it was being followed by a silver car. The shots were coming from the silver car.  The black vehicle which was in front stopped, then I saw one person come out of the black car and stood up at the front driver side door (Kwame Assanah). I then saw about one person come out of the silver car, he walked towards the black car. I then saw the person from the silver car start to beat the person who had come out from the driver’s side and was lying on the ground. He beat the one person while he was on the ground. Then after twenty minutes i heard rapid gunfire,” Lyte said.

He continued: “About ten to fifteen minutes after the shooting, Policemen from Camp Street started to run up the road. There was a photographer with them. They went to the scene and I also saw the ambulance arrive”.

The eyewitness also said that at the time when he heard the rapid gunfire, there was one person standing over the same person who was lying on the ground.

Further, he said that he did not see any motorcyclist fleeing the scene during the shooting as claimed by police.

Police had claimed that its ranks who were trailing the black car had come under fire from the occupants and during the confrontation the men were killed, while two other men who appeared on a motorcycle opened fire on Police.

Police further said that ranks managed to shoot one of the men dead from the motorcycle but the rider was able to escape while only one handgun was recovered at the scene.

When asked if he notice any exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspected bandits Lyte said “ I won’t be able to say whether the guy shot at the police or the police shoot at their own vehicle.”

Lyte further noted that before the shooting there was no other vehicle at the scene other that the police vehicle and the black car.

Attorney Nigel Hughes said more statements are being secured but much will not be disclosed as in the event there is reluctance on the part of the State to take the appropriate action, “we will take it.”

Acknowledging that from the fact presented to him it appeared that the men on the seawall were executed by police, Hughes questioned that even if there is a mass murderer walking down the seawall with his dog, is the police entitled to execute him because he is a mass murdered.

“Because if you allow us to drift to that stage it means that when people who may not possess that sort of reputation end up as the victims then it may be justifiable, and that is the real issue here,” Hughes said.

He explained that the rule of law is there to be implemented and if someone is acting suspiciously or committed a breach of the law they should be brought to justice and not left in the hands of someone who has a gun.

“I understand that the Police Force wanting to spend their time on the issue of the reputation of the men, but that is not the issue here, the point is that the state is not entitled to execute people at random, whatever their reputation maybe,” Hughes explained.

Hughes said that Guyana does not have a good history with protecting eyewitnesses and only certain information will be shared.

The attorney also questioned the police account of a customer withdrawing millions from the bank and heading to the seawall with a female friend at that time of the day.

“Even the best of customers don’t use that location… and the fact lead to an execution.”

Three sisters of Dextroy Cordis who have also retained Hughes services said they are seeking justice for their brother’s killing.

“It is our belief that the story that was told by the police is one that is not true…it is my desire that the policemen be brought to justice, it is my belief that all three men were murdered and probably there may be untold stories that have not come to light as yet and may probably will,” Allison West, one sisters said.

According to the police, seconds after the initial exchange of gunfire which led to the killing of Assanah and Cordis , two males were seen on a CG motorcycle in close proximity of the motorcar of the now dead suspects.

One of the two persons on the motorcycle reportedly shot at the police several times who again returned fire which resulted in another person , Adams, being shot dead.

Assanah’s wife Claire vehemently denied that her husband had any previous criminal history.She said that the Toyota motorcar , PTT 9034 which he was using is registered in both their names, and that her husband would work taxi from time to time.

She believes that this may have led to his demise, as she and relatives believe that the man may have inadvertently been at the wrong place when the shooting occurred.

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine later stated that the police ranks were justified in killing the three men , insisting that , “You’re dammed if you do, and dammed if you don’t.”

“The policemen acted in keeping with the law. They were fired upon and as with law enforcement officers who are authorised to use deadly force, as long as deadly force is justified to defend themselves … were those policemen who found themselves in that situation expendable? Come one, let’s be real, we have to applaud what happened,” Ramnarine had stated.

A post mortem examination conducted on the remains of two of the suspected bandits; Kwame Assanah and Dextroy Cordis, has confirmed that they were both shot at least six times each with the bullets exiting their bodies.

It is unclear how many times the third man, Errol Adams was shot.

Police later confirmed that Devon Lyte and his Attorney at Law at about 16:45hrs. Monday went to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary where he submitted a copy of the statement, which he issued earlier to the Crime Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams.

Police said during this process it was discussed and agreed for Devon Lyte should return Tuesday to be interview by a Senior Detective in the presence of his Attorney.

 

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