-post-mortem
Police said yesterday that a post-mortem performed on James Nelson who was discovered dead in the Brickdam Police Station on Monday, revealed that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple injuries.
The post-mortem was performed by Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Hospital Mortuary yesterday morning and the police said in a statement that they are continuing investigations into the man’s death.
The statement did not reveal which part/s of the body he sustained the injuries but his relatives said that they were told that he died from a ruptured spleen which is suspicious and should warrant an immediate and full investigation.
James Nelson
Stabroek News was unable to contact any senior police official yesterday to comment on the family’s claim.
In a press statement on Tuesday, police had said that the 47-year-old man was arrested a day earlier after he entered the compound of the Ministry of Home Affairs and began behaving disorderly, allegedly over money owed to him by a contractor who had sent him off the job.
He was spoken to by a Special Constabulary officer on duty but continued to behave in a disorderly manner and had to be restrained. The rank subsequently arrested him and handed him over to a police patrol that had been summoned.
According to the statement, having passed through the procedures for prisoners at the Brickdam Police Station, Nelson was placed in the lock-ups where he remained throughout the night. There were 20 other prisoners in the lock-ups for various offences.
However, around 6.30 am the following day, “acting on information received from a prisoner”, police ranks entered the lock-ups and found Nelson lying motionless in his cell. He was picked up and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An examination of the body revealed a bruise over his right eye and a small cut over his left eye.
Other prisoners were questioned and they told the police that during the night Nelson was seen banging his head against the wall of the lock-ups.
The relatives of Nelson, who said he had suffered some mental problems, had dismissed the police’s version saying that the man was not mad and would be well once he got his medication.
His wife Gloria had told Stabroek News that the man’s son noticed that his face and hands were swollen. There was also a gaping wound to the back of his head and marks on his hand, she said.
The woman had opined that the man was given a sound beating and the blame was laid at the feet of the police and not the detainees who were in the cell with him when he was found.
The man’s relatives had expressed disgust at the police for breaking their word to allow them to see the body in the cell and chasing them out of the compound before locking the gate.
Relatives issued a call for justice for the ex-soldier, since “Jimmy was no criminal”.
Ruptured spleen?
A relative told Stabroek News yesterday that she was at the mortuary for the post-mortem but did not go up close to witness it.
She said she and the other relatives were later told that the man died from a ruptured spleen and that the police left without telling them anything.
The relative almost in tears stated that “He couldn’t have inflicted that on himself… They claim that he was banging his head so how he gon get a ruptured spleen from that?”
The woman argued that there is no way that Nelson could have inflicted an injury upon himself to rupture his spleen.
According to the website MayoClinic.com, a ruptured spleen is typically caused by a blow to the left upper abdomen or the left lower chest. Sporting mishaps, fist fights and car accidents are common triggers. An injured spleen may rupture soon after the abdominal trauma or, in some cases, days or even weeks after the injury.
The relative told Stabroek News that while they want a full investigation into his death, the normal practice of the police is “to sweep things under the carpet”.
Nelson, a father of two sons, will be laid to rest today.
the only the public will believe the police on this one is to let the media into the prison, so they can verify the claims of what transpired, come officers we need to know how he died.
“haemorrhage and shock due to multiple injuries”
“ruptures spleen”
“head injuries”
no doubt due to the
5-star comforts of the Brickdam lock-ups.
Tell me something, these power company people know to join 2 wires together?
To protect & serve who??? How can a working man be imprisoned for demanding his pay then subsequently turns up dead? Am I missing something?
wat part of disorderly you dont understand?
The man was “KILLED” by a member or members of The
Guyana Police Force, just because he was talking about money
that he had worked for to put food on his table
The police have been killing and torturing people years now.
Now we have the Guyana Defence Force beating and tourtring it’s own
and private citizens.
The Guyana Prision Service has also jump on the bandwagan of
beating, tourtring and killing people in jail.
A ruptured spleen does not kill someone if the get emergency life saving spleenectomy. This is so sad.
No Justice, no peace remains the motto in Guyana and globally. Prosecute these cops and inprison them in his cell at brickdam. I say bring back the cat-o-nine tails. Hanging is too good for these creeps.
My condolences to the family and the nation for enduring yet another police crime.
Check to see if he was raped, just have a funny feeling about this one. At least one person in the cell with him know something.
It was excessive force used by the police. The police beat this victim and then leave him to die in the cell (this is cruelty). This is a good example of what took place at olando creek, which involved the miners and the JS.
did you read before commenting.
Indeed, my condolences go out to the family of the deceased. I am wondering what is the HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER MR. WRONGHEE is saying about this crime. Is he ordering a probe into this matter? I do hope!
someone should be held accountable for this murder which i am sure it is, the police is generally responsible for any person being placed in the lockups, but only one person or persons are responsible for inflicting the blow that caused the damaged this should be investigated, or the family should seek an inquery in to the man’s dimise.