Charges yet to be laid, police seeking DPP advice

More than a week after newspaper vendor Veronica Atherley succumbed to her injuries after a businessman in pursuit of two men accidentally shot her, charges are yet to be laid.

In an invited interview Commander Leroy Brummell on Monday told Stabroek News that police will soon seek the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the issue. He said too the businessman’s firearm is currently lodged with the police and he is reporting to the station as instructed.

On August 29, Atherley, 59, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara was taken to the city hospital after being shot in the hip by the licensed firearm holder. At the time the woman had been plying her trade in the Stabroek Market area.  According to reports on the said day, around 5.30 pm two men had attempted to rob the businessman and had attempted to flee when he opened fire on them, hitting the vendor. The shooter then reportedly attempted to flee after he realized that he had shot the woman but several persons pursued and apprehended him. Atherley was initially admitted as a patient in the hospital’s female surgical ward but was subsequently moved to the Intensive Care Unit after her condition worsened. She succumbed on September 4.

Questions have been raised about the charges that could be laid against the shooter and with Atherley’s passing, legal sources said the shooter could be charged with manslaughter.