DPP still to offer final advice in businessman's shooting death of vagrant

Three weeks after Bladen Hall businessman, Pooran Singh, shot and killed a vagrant outside his East Coast Demerara premises, the Director of Public Prosecutions is still to offer final advice on the case.

The incident took place on the 1st December, and according to Police sources, the DPP’s office initially offered advice for the businessman to be charged with murder. However, before the Police could file the criminal charge in the Court, the DPP withdrew the advice and requested additional information on the crime.

The vagrant, who was identified as Paul Carter, was outside the businessman’s premises when he was shot by the businessman, who claimed that the man was seen removing bottles of beer from outside the premises.

The injured man was then tied up by the waist and feet as the businessman visited the Police station at Vigilance to inform them of the shooting. When the Police and emergency services got to the houses, Carter was already dead and investigators also suspected that his body might have been moved around outside the premises from one area to another.

The businessman was initially arrested, but later released on station bail as the probe continued.

During the investigations, the Police said three spent shells were discovered, one in the verandah of the upper flat of the house and the remaining two in the yard. Investigators believe the businessman stood in his verandah and opened fire on the vagrant.

Investigators were able to obtain a video recording of the incident and that was also dispatched to the DPP.

The murder probe is onoging.