Police SWAT Officer, Sherwin Peters was today sentenced to 25 years in jail for the killing of Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston.

The businessman was asleep in his house when a group of SWAT Officers barged into the premises and Peters, who was one of the officers, opened fire on the businessman in his bed.

Two weeks ago, the Policeman was found guilty of manslaughter.

In handing down the 25-year prison sentence today, Justice Sandil Kissoon noted that the operation, carried out by 12 heavily armed SWAT officers, was executed without a search warrant, without an arrest warrant, or any lawful authority.

The Judge summised that the actions of Policeman Peters were unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified, disproportionate, and excessive.

He said the resort to lethal force was without any basis against an unarmed man asleep in his bed.

Justice Kissoon also pointed out that the SWAT unit—comprising officers specially trained for high-risk interventions—failed in their responsibility to act with caution, restraint, and professionalism. He described their entire conduct during the September 15, 2021 operation as reckless, stressing that none of the officers had lawful grounds to enter the businessman’s home.

The Judge said the defendant’s claim that there was a confrontation that led to the shooting, was contradicted by his own fellow officers and investigators from the Police Criminal Investigations Department.

Just before the sentence was handed down, the State Prosecutor referenced a lawsuit filed by the widow of the businessman against the State for the unlawful killing, noting that compensation had been paid to her.

The Prosecutor wanted the Court to consider that settlement as a mitigating factor. But the Judge said that while Guyanese law allows compensation to be considered in mitigation, in this instance, the payment was made by taxpayers, which affected his view on its mitigating value. The Judge rejected the idea that the compensation held significant mitigating value, because it was not paid by the offender, Sherwin Peters, but was paid by the state.

He said the Policeman was lucky that he was charged for manslaughter and not murder. The Judge handed down the 25 year jail sentence and ordered that the days since the man was held in Police custody following the guilty verdict be considered as part of the sentencing.

The 15th September 2021 shooting death of the businessman led to national outrage and protests. The Policeman was charged four months after the incident.

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