A year after three young men were fatally shot by police on South Road, their families are concerned that the outcome of a pending inquest into their deaths is a foregone conclusion since no civilian eyewitnesses have come forward to recount what they had seen on the night of the shooting.
Although witnesses at the scene had recounted the moments leading up to the shooting, the men’s families say these persons are understandably afraid to come forward and as a result evidence gathered from the investigation has been solely the result of “police investigating police.”
Cousins Jermaine Canterbury, 21, and Mark Anthony Joseph, called “Two Grand,” 19, died on October 12 last year, while Romario Gouveia, also 19, died two days later from a gunshot wound to the jaw which was not considered by doctors to be life threatening. Canterbury sustained about 12 bullet wounds to various parts of his body, while Joseph was shot four times. Police claim that the trio were shot during an exchange with lawmen after they were confronted as they were about to commit an armed robbery at the K&VC hotel.
Joseph’s father, Mark Fraser, told Stabroek News that when he visited the police earlier this year, he was told that witnesses needed to come forward.
A clearly devastated Fraser said that he still cannot believe that he was killed in such a manner.
He was working abroad when his son was killed but after being informed he returned home. He said that when he observed his son’s body, there was a black circle around two of the bullet wounds, leading him to conclude that his son was shot at close range. He said two of the wounds were to the left and right side ribs, a third marked the entry of a bullet in the back of his neck and its exit through the jaw and another was in his chest area. He observed that his son’s jaw was so badly damaged that “propping it back up” took lots of effort.
‘They got people who see’
Fraser was told that when Joseph and his cousin were shot, they were both on their knees with their hands up in the air and pleading for their lives. Based on his understanding, they were walking somewhere near Camp Street when they encountered the police, who took them near the hotel. He said that based on what he has gathered, his son ran and ended up near Demerara Bank. Fraser said that he was told that his son and one of the ranks then became involved in a scuffle and they ended up in the trench. According to him, his son was taken back to the area near the hotel where Canterbury was being held.
According to Fraser, he was told that Gouveia was brought to the scene by police. By that time, the two cousins had already been shot. “They got people who see and know but they ain’t want to come forward,” he said.
He pointed out that the police’s version of the encounter was not supported by the injuries that the trio sustained.
Asked if he has gone to the police for updates, Fraser said that he attempted to see the then police commissioner Leroy Brumell but did not.
He said that he spoke to then crime chief Seelall Persaud, who advised him to bring eyewitnesses. He said that about three months ago he again visited the police and was directed to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He said at the DPP he was informed that “everything gone to the court.”
He took the position that little is being done to help him and the relatives of the other two slain men because they are poor and underprivileged. He questioned why it is that they have to be going through such hardships in their pursuit of justice.
Fraser said that he is hearing about the inquest but no one can provide any information on when it is going to start. He said that given the fact that he was asked to bring forward witnesses, it was apparent that it will only be police ranks who would be testifying in the matter. He also expressed concerns that it was the “police investigating police”.
According to Fraser, if people decided to come forward they should be given some sort of protection, especially given the fact that Gouveia died under questionable circumstances.
He added that even if his son was engaged in some wrongdoing, he should have been taken before the court. “They just put he fuh lie down and killed he like a dog puppy,” he said.
Fraser added that he often quizzed his son on what he wanted to do with his life and had repeatedly offered to help him pursue his dreams. Based on their last conversation on the issue, he said, he was putting plans in place to gather some money so that Joseph could start a trading business.
He noted that he often advised his son to stay away from bad company and he would promise to do so. The teen did not live with him and he thinks that if he had been he would have been alive today. “I blame myself for a lot of things,” he said, while adding that his other son, who recently turned 18, now lives with him.
“I mightn’t get justice from the police or the government but I will get it from God,” he added.
‘They have failed’
Meanwhile, Gouveia’s father, Donald, said that one year has come and gone and nothing has been done, “thanks to the failure of our police, our politicians and our system.”
Donald told Stabroek News that though his son and others were gunned down by the police, “God is good and justifiable.”
He said that he is not expecting any justice from the police. He said that besides the police he is yet to get answers from the Georgetown Hospital about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death. He said that samples were taken from the remains at the post-mortem examination to be tested but he is yet to hear about the results.
He told this newspaper that he was “put out” of the hospital after staying with him for a night and the next thing he knew his child was dead. He said the doctors told him that he could not remain unless he had permission from the administrators.
Donald continued to insist that had he been allowed to stay his son would have been alive today. “I still think something went wrong deh.
When I saw him he was strong, talking, walking,” he said, while adding that at the time of his son’s death he was under police guard. He said that when he spoke to the rank, he claimed that he had no knowledge how Gouveia died.
He said that he would never forgive the police for the grief they have caused him.
Additionally, he expressed concerns about the lack of eyewitnesses and how this would affect the inquest if one is ever held. “My son wasn’t on no crime. That is why I am hurt about it”, he said.
He expressed doubt that the policemen who shot the trio would be held accountable for their actions.
