Jagdeo to Govt: Investigate Glenn Lall’s vigilante Killing

Kaieteur News Owner and Publisher Glenn Lall

Extrajudicial killings…

Given the Government’s commitment to launch investigations into extrajudicial killings, former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is challenging the David Granger-led Administration to investigate the tragic murder of Kenny France which was allegedly committed by Kaieteur News Owner and Publisher Glenn Lall.

The controversial businessmen could find himself in hot water if Government dares to take up the challenge and thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding that particular case which occurred in 1994.

Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

“He was shot and killed in cold blood and there was no inquest, he was never charged for manslaughter, murder of anything else… Will there be a (Commission of Inquiry) CoI into that judicial killing,” the former President questioned, referring to the coldblooded murder of France.

President David Granger recently disclosed that moves are afoot to establish a coroners department to aid in the investigation into the series of extrajudicial killings which will forever stain Guyana’s history – an announcement that sparked countless conversations on the number of unsolved murders that need to be investigated, including those allegedly committed by Lall.

According to reports, Lall allegedly “shot and killed” 30-year-old Kenny France. Lall was never arrested nor were charges ever instituted against him.

Facts related to the case stated that Lall and three friends were driving on the East Bank Public Road when he “spotted” one Oclive Marshall in a yard.

According to reports, Lall felt that Marshall was one of the individuals who had attempted to burglarise his home. He stopped his car and demanded that Marshall accompany him to the Police station – the nearest one was at Ruimveldt, five minutes away.

Fearing that Marshall would be beaten by Lall and his cohorts, his aunt, Pamela France demanded that she be allowed to accompany him to the station.

By this time, a number of villagers had gathered and the aunt demanded identification, which Lall could not provide.

At this point, Lall reportedly whipped out his .38 weapon and demanded Marshall enter the vehicle.  Lall spoke roughly to the aunt who remonstrated with him and her husband Kenny France protested that he could not speak to his wife in that manner.

At this point, Lall shot France in the chest and the man fell to the ground dead. Lall and his friends then drove off and he later said that the shooting was “an accident”.

This account was disputed by Pamela Marshall and the dozens of villagers who witnessed what transpired. The Stabroek News reported that the Police took a statement from Lall, but this was never released to the press.

Similarly, the Police never released their findings from their investigation into the distance between Lall and France when the fatal shot was fired.

Cold cases

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had told Guyana Times that the establishment of a Cold Case Unit is underway. This announcement further deepened the possibility of the reopening of the Kenny France case.

Additionally, State Minister Joseph Harmon told this publication that there was a possibility that Government may reopen cold cases as well as launch investigations into the numerous unsolved murders that occurred over a particular period of time.

“We will investigate cold, warm, hot cases…,” he reiterated .

At the time, Harmon could not recall the exact period into which Government wants to initiate the probe, although previous reports show that the period spans 2000-2008. Nonetheless, he explained that CoIs will be established to deal with “all” uncertain matters, insisting that affected families needed closure and Government intended to deliver upon that.

Former President Donald Ramotar had also sounded his calls for Government to launch an investigation into the murder of Kenny France.

There is no statute of limitations on murder.