Murdered cop was shot twice

– evidence suggests he knew killer

Executed narcotics detective Jirbahan Dianand was shot twice, a post-mortem examination (PME) revealed yesterday and investigators are working with the theory that he knew his killer.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said that two warheads were removed from the Dianand’s body during the PME at the Skeldon Hospital.

The dead constable’s father, “Dutchie” Dianand, later yesterday said his son was shot to his forehead and below his left ear. The funeral is planned for Thursday, he also said.

Jirbhan Dianand

According to Persaud, several persons from the Berbice area who were the last to be in contact with Dianand, 23, remain in police custody. “It seems to suggest that it [was] someone that he [knew] from the circumstances,” he said, adding that from all indications the shooting occurred inside Dianand’s car. Police will now conduct ballistics tests on the warheads, which may yield some clues as to the weapon that was used.

Detective Constable Dianand, who was stationed at the Moleson Creek Police Outpost and attached to the Narcotics Section, had been gaining a reputation over drugs busts he made and his ability to find drugs hidden in vehicles.

He was found in his car by passersby on the public road at Jackson Creek, Corentyne around 5.30 am last Friday. Dianand was found face down in the driver’s seat of his tinted burgundy vehicle.

Previously, Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell had described the location as a lonely road, raising questions as to what the young policeman was doing in that area at that hour. From all indications, he never made it home from work last Thursday night because he was still wearing the same clothing he was seen in throughout that day.

Dianand’s father yesterday said that the last time he spoke to his son was the night before the murder. He noted that when he called his son and asked his whereabouts, Dianand replied that he would be home in five minutes. After he did not show up, the man called his son again after 9 pm, but there was no answer. He called Dianand’s other cellular phones and the same thing happened. The next day, around 3 am, he tried again but the results were the same.

When the senior Dianand went out to work on Friday morning, he received a call from a friend who told him to go immediately to Jackson Creek. When he got there, he saw his son’s car parked on the road and his son dead inside with his head down.

The man said his son never had any problem with anyone and he was always happy with his work. “Whenever meh does ask how is work, he does always say everything alright,” the father added.

He also revealed that one of his son’s cellular phones—a BlackBerry—and his wallet containing all his documents were not found on him at the scene of the murder and are still missing.

Senior police officials say that the motive for the murder remains unclear but are adamant that it had something to do with the work he has been doing in Berbice.