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Mother of shot-in-mouth teen concerned over strangers asking her to settle

Posted By Staff Writer On May 4, 2014 In Local News |

 

The mother of the teen shot in his mouth by a policeman late Wednesday evening, after he denied knowledge of a robbery, expressed concern at strangers visiting her home asking her to come to a compromise.

 

Three days after Alex Griffith, 15, was shot, his mother Marcel Griffith, told Stabroek News, two men in the company one of her neighbours, visited her home at about 8 am, and asked her to come to a compromise.

 

Marcel said after she asked them to leave, a man questioned her reluctance and expressed his disapproval at her by shouting.

 

"I don't want anybody say anything to me," Marcel told this newspaper, adding, "They could’ve killed me child." "You can’t damage somebody child and expect then to settle," she said. Moreover, the frustrated woman said she had informed the police of the visits and they told her to take photos of such future visits and report it to the police.

 

Meanwhile, the wound at the back of lad's throat is healing, Marcel said, but she was unable to say what could be done about the hole in Alex's tongue. She said a doctor from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), was to meet with her to discuss Alex's condition in detail, including a possible surgery. Alex is still an admitted patient at the GPH.

 

According to reports, Alex was forced to open his mouth and was shot while in the custody of the police ranks, who told his mother they were taking him to the Brickdam Police Station.

 

They had earlier inflicted a severe beating on the teen in effort to retrieve information about a robbery committed against a relative of the rank who allegedly pulled the trigger.

 

The matter is under investigation.

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The culture of the police force is not changing

Posted By Staff Writer On May 5, 2014 In Editorial |

 

On Wednesday night, a 15-year-old boy, Alex Christopher Griffith was shot in his mouth allegedly by a policeman who at last word was under close arrest. The Guyana Police Force has so far not provided an alternative story and that will be difficult considering that the boy had been marched off by a group of policemen, shortly before the shooting, without him being accompanied by one of his relatives.

 

It is more than likely that the alleged shooter will end up before the court on a charge of attempted murder or perhaps a far lesser charge if past experience is anything to go by. Even if the shooter is slapped with the most serious charge possible and there is a successful prosecution – another process fraught with numerous loopholes and weaknesses – no one in society should be feel even the slightest measure of comfort. For, Alex Griffith undoubtedly came within a whisker of dying that very night, will now face lengthy and costly rehabilitation and will be scarred forever by the events of last Wednesday.

 

Apart from that tragic reality, there is another that starkly faces both the police force and the general public: the barbaric and inhumane culture that law enforcement is steeped in shows no sign of waning notwithstanding the endless streams of hifalutin rhetoric from the Home Affairs Ministry and the force itself. There is a chronic culture of backwardness and brutality in the police force that will not be extirpated unless the entire force is fundamentally reformed. This common sense demand by the public has been denied by the PPP/C since 1992 with the result that the malignancy of cruelty is now endemic and hopelessly so.

 

Just days after the Annual Police Officers Conference with its lofty aspirations and hints at redemptive action, the new acting Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud has a perfect opportunity to critically examine the dark behaviour of the force and to decide how to begin rooting it out.

 

What is the impetus that drives any policeman or woman, alone or in the company of others, to descend on the home of an alleged 15-year-old robbery witness in the dead of night and to demand his presence by the utterance of a nickname?

 

What is it that inspires any part of the force to descend en masse – 12 at a time based on Alex Griffith’s mother’s account – for the purpose of demanding to speak to a witness to a robbery? This was no drug lord’s lair except that the police are apparently unable to search for witnesses in these areas.

 

What moves any member of the force to demand that a supposed 15-year-old witness should accompany him/her in the dead of night to who knows where?

 

What twisted thinking enables any one member of the police force, let alone around a dozen, to march off with a 15-year-old, no matter how brave the teenager is, without the permission of his guardian and, in this case, after duping her into believing that she would be able to accompany her child?

 

What seizes policemen to brutalize a 15-year-old β€œwitness” in his own yard and in front of his mother and then casually tell the mother to collect her child at the Brickdam Police Station?

 

Crucially, what is the mindset in any group of police that would permit one of their number to draw a weapon and fire it at a 15-year-old β€œwitness” to a robbery just moments after being taken from the protection of his home and clearly not being a threat to anyone?

 

The sequence of events is unimaginable and utterly reprehensible. Given the now high expectations that the government, Minister Rohee and the police directorate have created in the public as a result of the hype over reforms, there should be commensurate seriousness applied to this probe and it shouldn’t be conducted by the police or the Office of Professional Responsibility. Perhaps, the government should importune one of the commissioners in the Rodney probe to spend half a day getting to the bottom of this abomination.

 

So far the police have spoken about one of their number being under close arrest. From any reading of the events as related by the mother and so far uncontested, each and every one of the policemen and women who were on that mission on Wednesday night should be the subject of this investigation and questioned exhaustively on what transpired before they begin trying to cover for each other and the whole investigation descends into farce.

 

The grievous assault on the 15-year-old is far from being the exception over the years in relation to allegations levelled at the force over the treatment of youth and the avoidance of protocols related to juveniles. None of the human rights education or the entreaties for professional policing seem to be percolating through the force. It was only days before this heinous shooting that the police force was lectured by human rights activist Mike McCormack about the need for more humane policing with the needs of communities – like that of the 15-year-old boy – being place at the centre of the force’s operations as opposed to antagonizing them.

McCormack told the police officers β€œHuman rights and democratic practice can no longer be viewed as an β€˜add-on’, they are central to modern policing. All aspects of policing – investigations, arrest procedures, use of force, recruitment and relations with communities – have to be reviewed from the new perspective of democracy and human rights. The wide-ranging implication of a shift to democratic policing extends to recruitment and the need to screen out elements which are hostile or unsuited to this new approach to policing.” He had also stressed how important it was for the police to cultivate a positive image in communities.

 

β€œEveryday contact with the police in villages and neighbourhoods more defines the image of the police than what they see on TV or read in newspapers. The aged or the person with disabilities, the person lost and in need of direction – particularly if she is female – presently do not look to the police to assist them. As for … emergency calls, the less said the better. Small, everyday encounters shape opinions of the police force as a whole and determine the degree of cooperation the police can expect from citizens. The β€˜bad apple’ explanation of corrupt policing is only believable against personal experience of good policing. Conversely, if personal experience of policing is negative, we are disposed to believe all police are that way inclined”, he argued. Clearly, the officer under whose command the policemen from Wednesday night’s shooting came under was unable to impart this message to his charges.

 

Twenty-two years of PPP/C governance has thrown up cases of outright murder, the grossest violations of human rights and innumerable other obscenities compliments of the disciplined services. Notwithstanding the enormous challenges that policemen and women face, these outrages cannot continue. The government and the legislature must be pressed to take decisive action to end this scourge.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Carib and Redux will always defend and support Afro criminals and criminal activity in Guyana. Seelall must teach criminals a lesson and clean up Guyana.

 

To Carib and Redux: Hal you......

 

Stop defending criminals.

do you mind . . .

 

this is a serious thread . . . illiterates and degenerates not welcome

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

bai, at least READ the articles posted on the thread before dropping panty and wining down with yuh dalit-KKK messaging manufactured in the antiman sausage factory u have moonlighting as a brain

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

 

Bhai

 

Dem larwa mouths cry and holler when the real criminals are taken down because the criminals are one of their own kith and kin.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

beating up and shooting a helpless 15-year old must give alyuh big men serious thrills

 

that the victim is a Black youth most certainly brought you to instant orgasm

 

[in context] too bad u 'missed' this part:

 

"This was no drug lord’s lair except that the police are apparently unable to search for witnesses in these areas."

 

smh

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

beating up and shooting a helpless 15-year old must give alyuh big men serious thrills

 

that the victim is a Black youth most certainly brought you to instant orgasm

 

[in context] too bad u 'missed' this part:

 

"This was no drug lord’s lair except that the police are apparently unable to search for witnesses in these areas."

 

smh

FM
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

beating up and shooting a helpless 15-year old must give alyuh big men serious thrills

 

that the victim is a Black youth most certainly brought you to instant orgasm

 

[in context] too bad u 'missed' this part:

 

"This was no drug lord’s lair except that the police are apparently unable to search for witnesses in these areas."

 

smh

You ah tink wid you kakahole high iq antiman. Wan criminal is wan crimminal. Age gat nothing to do with crime. Wen de story klear up and de krimminal go jail, yu guh see dem ah burn an loot and cry racisim.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

People getting upset that Seelall is now taking down the criminals and we are seeing the true face of the majority of criminals in Guyana.

 

Wonder why dem vex ?

Bhai Yuji, When dem coolie man ah get killed, dem ah freedom house tief. Now de real krimminals ah get dem fair share, all dem hi IQ and hi life non dalits intelligent f.a.g.g.o.t.s ah complain. What a fantasy world for these bharwah and larwah mouths.

beating up and shooting a helpless 15-year old must give alyuh big men serious thrills

 

that the victim is a Black youth most certainly brought you to instant orgasm

 

[in context] too bad u 'missed' this part:

 

"This was no drug lord’s lair except that the police are apparently unable to search for witnesses in these areas."

 

smh

You ah tink wid you kakahole high iq antiman. Wan criminal is wan crimminal. Age gat nothing to do with crime. Wen de story klear up and de krimminal go jail, yu guh see dem ah burn an loot and cry racisim.

i suggest u read my post before braying to the wind fool

FM
Originally Posted by redux:

mr yugee . . . is dis what u do to cover yuh privates when the lash strip off yuh panty?

You are really obsessed with private parts and panties. Do you prefer Victorias Secret brand? Do you get a box of matches with every pair of panties? Are your panties labelled with days of the week? Seelall would like know.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by redux:

mr yugee . . . is dis what u do to cover yuh privates when the lash strip off yuh panty?

You are really obsessed with private parts and panties. Do you prefer Victorias Secret brand? Do you get a box of matches with every pair of panties? Are your panties labelled with days of the week? Seelall would like know.

mek attempt is good . . . but yuh IQ too low [see the other thread]

FM

Cadet officer played Russian roulette, shot 15-yr-old recounts

Posted By Staff Writer On May 6, 2014 In Local News |

 

Shot 15-year-old Alex Griffith yesterday recounted how a cadet officer played Russian roulette while grilling him about the identities of suspects in a robbery, eventually shooting him in his mouth.

 

Griffith, though in intense pain, recounted the harrowing experience to this newspaper from his bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

The boy explained that he had been at a friend’s home around 8 pm last Wednesday evening when a robbery occurred outside. Though he had been unable to see what had transpired, he said, two van-loads of policemen later went to his East La Penitence Squatting area home to question him about the identities of the robbers.

 

He had relayed to the ranks that he was unaware of the robbers’ identities. He was nevertheless taken from his home, placed in one of the vehicles, and driven around the area. He told this publication that the vehicle eventually stopped in front of the home of one of the suspected robbers in the East La Penitence area. However, the person was not at home.

 

Griffith continued that the accused robber’s absence apparently infuriated the cadet officer, who forced him from the police vehicle and ordered him to lie on the ground. The cadet officer, Griffith said, removed all of the bullets from a gun but subsequently replaced one. He then put the gun into the 15-year-old’s mouth.

 

The cadet officer, he said, continued to press him for the robbers’ identities. After not receiving a satisfactory answer, the cadet officer pulled the trigger but nothing happened. Once again, he asked for the identities of the bandits and, when told by Griffith once again that he did not know, he fired a second time. This time, Griffith said, the gun went off.

 

He said he began to bleed badly from the mouth and one of the accompanying ranks said, β€œthis guy bleeding bad; leh we tek him to the hospital.” He was dropped off at the hospital by the ranks who left shortly afterwards.

 

He explained he was conscious right until his arrival and subsequent admission into the hospital. Meanwhile, Marcel Griffith told Stabroek News yesterday that her son was recovering, though he was still experiencing some pain.

 

Asked if she believed that her son will get justice, Marcel said, β€œat least so far I think justice is on its way.” She said that today is the day for the police to make a final decision on charges to be instituted against the cadet officer because the 72 hours would have expired.

 

Contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Leslie James told this newspaper that no statement had been taken from the child as he is still hospitalized. He added that the child had been shot in the mouth and that area was still very tender. However, the boy’s mother told this newspaper differently.

 

Marcel explained that a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) rank visited last Friday and collected a detailed statement from her son, which the boy signed. She said that the rank insisted that he needed to take the statement then, even though the child could not speak properly, because the commissioner had requested it. She added that the rank returned the next morning and notified her that she needed to sign the statement as well, which she did.

 

The woman told this newspaper that while the boy was being interviewed, a lawyer that the family has retained, was present.

Responding to queries by this publication on whether the cadet officer was released from custody, James said the accused cadet officer remains under close arrest at Eve Leary.

 

According to James, the law permits a person, including a policeman, to be held for 72 hours. β€œWe do have him in custody,” James said while stressing, β€œHe is still under close arrest.”

 

James also revealed that investigators are still collecting statements, noting that the investigation β€œcan be looked at from several fronts.” Further, he said, the investigators will have to look at the whether the cadet officer’s intention had been to scare the child or to physically harm him.

 

James stressed that the boy is still hospitalized and that investigators did not want to act hastily in administering a charge. β€œWe are looking at it,” he assured this publication, noting that the force was well aware of the expectations of the citizenry.

 

When questioned about whether the charge could be one relating to wounding or attempted murder, he said that in matters like these it can go either way. However, he pointed out, the intention must first be established.

 

In response to a question on whether there will be departmental charges brought against the officer, he said that in a case like this the police also have to deal with the public outcry and whether it would suffice to only administer departmental charges. According to the Crime Chief, the criminal aspect of the case is being looked at.

 

Meanwhile, a security source said the case is one of β€œopen and shut” attempted murder. β€œWhat would be your intent to put a gun in a man’s mouth?” the source questioned before adding that it was a miracle that the teen was not dead. The bullet, the source noted, could have severed a blood vessel or pierced his brain.

 

β€œThis is a clear case of attempted murder and all of them should do down with him,” the source said in reference to the approximately one dozen ranks who accompanied the cadet officer.

 

The source said there should be no delay in not only bringing criminal charges against the cadet officer and his accomplices but also β€œstripping them of their positions in the Guyana Police Force.”

 

Based on reports, the robbery occurred around 8 pm and, a few hours later, the cadet officer and the accompanying ranks arrived at the Griffith’s home. This newspaper was reliably informed that it was a sister of the β€˜C’ Division-based cadet officer who was robbed.

 

It would appear that, after hearing of the robbery, the cadet officer left his post, rounded up some ranks, and headed to the East La Penitence Squatting Area to investigate. At the scene, he was well-dressed in his police uniform.

FM

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