A file on an investigation into the case of Keith Mitchell, who was fatally shot by police at Anira Street on May 7, has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecu-tions (DPP).

Keith Mitchell

Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard, the Head of the Police Com-plaints Authority (PCA), when contacted by Stabroek News on Wednesday said that police had launched an investigation into the Mitchell shooting. The file has since been forwarded to the DPP and a response on whether an inquest will be conducted is expected “soon”, Kennard said.

Mitchell, of Lot 17 Lombard and Broad streets, Georgetown, died shortly after he was shot in the left thigh by police early that morning at Anira Street, Queenstown. Reports were that Mitchell had stolen a number of items from Police Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary. He was detected by ranks as he attempted to escape with his booty and a chase, which ended at Anira Street, ensued.

The man’s relatives had said they were not satisfied with the details provided to them by police and later raised questions about whether it was in fact legal for the police ranks to have shot Mitchell. Mitchell’s mother, Leotha Crandon, had expressed her belief that her son was beaten by police before being taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Crandon had said that she learnt from GPH staff that her son was still alive when he arrived at the medical institution but doctors were unable to save him.

A post-mortem conducted on Mitchell, relatives reported, revealed that he bled to death. His mother had reported that there were visible marks of violence which led them to believe that he was beaten by police before or after he was wounded. The PCA did not comment when questioned about this.

Contacted on Thursday Crandon said that she did not lodge a complaint with the PCA but she is not aware whether her older son would’ve done so. The woman is hopeful that an inquest will be conducted into the matter.

“I really hoping that they do this inquest because I know that it going to answer a lot of my questions,” Crandon said.
Police, in a press statement issued shortly after had said the Anira Street, Queenstown incident occurred around 4.45 am that day. Mitchell, police had alleged, had stolen a windscreen off a minibus that was lodged in the compound at Traffic Headquarters and was subsequently shot in his left thigh by a policeman.

Mitchell, according to police, had been seen earlier riding a bicycle in the vicinity of Traffic Headquarters. He was subsequently seen leaving the Traffic Headquarters compound with a front windscreen that had been taken off a minibus. Ranks on duty challenged him but he ran away. The man was pursued and the policemen caught up with him at Anira Street, “and during efforts to arrest him he was shot to his left upper thigh by one of the ranks who was armed with a service firearm”.

Force Order Two
There are currently two “Force Orders” which contain rules and regulations to be followed by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Stabroek News was reliably informed that “Force Order Two” documents the guidelines to be followed by armed policemen.

Kennard explained on Wednesday that it was not in his remit to deal with issues surrounding the rules and regulations governing members of the GPF. He directed this newspaper to Assistant Com-missioner Khrishna Lekhraj who is responsibly for GPF administration.

Lekhraj, when contacted on Wednesday afternoon refused to comment. When asked what documentation recorded guidelines to be followed by police when using and firing firearms under various circumstances and whether a copy could be made available to this newspaper, the Assistant Commissioner did not respond.

“I cannot say anything to you about this,” Lekhraj told Stabroek News. “I believe there is a body which deals with such matters,” he added before directing this newspaper to GPF’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).

Stabroek News was also informed on Wednesday afternoon that the force’s PRO Ivelaw Whittaker was on leave. John Sauers, who is responsible for PR matters in Whittaker’s absence, could offer no help.  “I will have to contact higher authorities”, he said.