Policemen charged for murder over shooting death of unarmed man during high-speed chase

The 39-year-old man was one of two persons badly injured when the Police opened fire on a car that they were in during a chase. The two men were rushed to the hospital but Sampat died two weeks after without ever regaining consciousness.

Policemen charged for murder over shooting death of unarmed man during high-speed chase

Two serving members of the Guyana Police Force were today charged for murder and remanded to jail over the shooting death of Festival City resident, Cecil Sampat.

The 39-year-old man was one of two persons badly injured when the Police opened fire on a car that they were in during a chase. The two men were rushed to the hospital but Sampat died two weeks after without ever regaining consciousness.

In Court today, Corporal Godwin Thomas and Constable Troy Munroe appeared before the Chief Magistrate to face the murder charge. They were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge. The two who were shackled for their Court appearance were immediately remanded to prison and the case will continue later this month.

It was on the night of July 25 that the Police were summoned to break up a roadside brawl on the Main road outside Agricola. The Police claimed that one of the men jumped in the car with Sampat and the car sped away from the scene.

The Police gave chase and the driver of the car refused to stop at various roadblocks. Additional Police ranks were called out and it was in the vicinity of Mandela Avenue that the Police opened fire on the speeding car.

No weapons were found in the car although a Policeman who responded to the incident in Agricola had claimed seeing one of the men who ran into the car being armed with a handgun.

Two of the men who were in the car were injured by the gunfire and taken to the hospital.

Mr. Sampat passed away while the other man remains critical and could be paralyzed for the rest of his life.

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