Two months after Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank Mark George was shot in the back by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys, while on duty on Woolford Avenue, the Direc-tor of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that no charges be laid against the judicial officer.
The file was sent to the DPP for advice on possible charges weeks ago and when questioned yesterday about the status of that part of the case, Police Commissioner (ag) Henry Greene informed the media that he had just gotten word from Crime Chief Seelall Persaud that it has been recommended that there be no charges.
Greene was however quick to point out that he had not yet seen the file.
Asked if he was particularly concerned about that given the fact that a young policeman was injured, he stressed that he has to see what the DPP has written in the file before adding that he has to “see the whole concept in which the DPP made her decision”.
Questioned further on reports of a financial settlement in the case, the Commissioner pointed out that he was unaware of such a deal and that the file has nothing about a settlement being collected.
Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys
Following the shooting of George, many had raised concerns about the possibility of the matter dissolving. George’s relatives had told this newspaper that they were not concentrating on the investigation and what should happen to the magistrate but rather George’s recovery and discharge from the Georgetown Hospital.
Contacted last night on this latest development, his brother Alwin told Stabroek News that he has “thrown the incident behind my back. Once he is out of hospital, everything else is up to him”.
The man said that it is now up to his brother to make a decision in relation to the police and charges.
After several weeks of hospitalization, George was discharged from the hospital. He told this newspaper via telephone last evening that he is much better.
When told about the DPP’s decision, the man said that “I don put this matter behind my back”.
When asked about the reports of compensation being paid, George said “I am ok… I don’t like being a spectacle”.
On June 26, the rank and his colleagues were on patrol on Woolford Avenue when they noticed a vehicle with tinted windows parked on the roadway. The officers made checks and an argument ensued between them and the driver, who was later identified as Magistrate Gilhuys. It was at this point that the magistrate reportedly opened fire on the ranks, hitting George in the back. The bullet exited through his abdomen and in the process caused some internal damage.
The magistrate subsequently made a report at the Brickdam Police Station but he refused to hand over his weapon. However, he parked his vehicle which had about six bullet holes, in the station compound. The magistrate then appeared at the station the following day accompanied by his attorney Nigel Hughes, and after spending several hours, was released on self bail. He also lodged his weapon at the station.
Following the shooting, the magistrate had said that he was first shot at and that he returned fire.
Shortly after the shooting, the Magistrate proceeded on annual leave and has not returned to the bench.
Other magistrates are now handling his cases in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court as well as in the court in Linden.
as expected guyanese have very short memories I can remember though that a certain cricketer shot a police constable under similar circumstances that matter did not even go to the dpp if i can remember clearly,so what is the difference here even though i have reservations as to what transpired seeing that the magistrate was trying a certain case maybe he thought he was under threat as anything is possible in guyana these days
My brother-in-law worked with Gilhuys in the GPF. Gilhuys was a client of my dad, who was a prominent businessman in the 80’s and 90’s. He visited our home often. It was only a few months ago while reading the news, I realized he’d become a magistrate.
“God is in charge,all is well”
the authorities in Guyana, are so blatant, they just don’t care about what the public say, whether right or wrong. but they should remember is the public who put them there.
This is grave injustice. The Chancellor or The Atorney General should now get involved in this matter. The DPP should give her reasons publicly in writing as to why Mr Gilhuys should not be charged.
when you are a member of a certain group in GT, you authomatically becomes untouchable, the rule of law do not apply to those people.
What is really going on in my country ?
Only de police officer and mr.gilhuys knows wat hapen that night ,and de only thing de public knows is wat they want us to kno, so if they want to leave it alone I think it should be left alone. Just my opinion. They are all law enforcement personel.
Hmmm, the blue wall of silence
The police in GUYANA know the cars of all the ministers justices and the big ones this is a fact. knowing this and with all that is going on in gt why would one lone police approach a car with darkend windows on a dimly lit street to peek inside
Mack I agree with you 1000%.
Thank God he did shoot and was able to save his life. I agree with the DPP’s DECISION. The police must learn to do their jobs professionally. Who knows maybe if he didn’t use his firearm he would’ve been the second YOHANCE DOUGLAS- a University of Guyana colleague slain by the police a few years ago. I don’t feel sorry for police men when they feel the pain of a bullet. He will now have a phobia for guns and develop more tact and reasoning power. The police should have done the right thing.
“THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD IN THE WORST OF US AND SO MUCH BAD IN THE BEST OF US, THAT IT HARDLY BECOMMES ANY OF US WHO CAN TRULY TALK OF THE REST OF US”
Mr. Gilhuys go licence that thing now.
Several years Dr Fenton Ramsahoye gave a commentary on the local TV. He remarked that the judiciary is not a sacred institution, it had so many people of low morale and Guyanese have no confidence in such an institution. I can name a few of those in the judiciary who do not belong there. What a disgrace!
we can all say what we want to say but,i think that justice was not served and i as a former member of the GPF for 15 yrs do think that it send a very bad message to the young ones in guyana at a time when people are afraid of joining the GPF.I will close by saying only god can help Guyana at this time