Sean Williams, who was shot by a police officer responding to a report of domestic violence, has been discharged from the hospital and his shooter has offered his family compensation.
Williams, 26, called ‘Sunny,’ of Itaballi, Region Seven, was shot to his back after he reportedly resisted being handcuffed on August 5.
He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) the same evening.
The police, in a statement, had said that a mother made a report at the Itaballi Check Point that her daughter was being assaulted by her reputed husband, Williams. As a result, the subordinate officer in charge sent a constable to the scene with the woman.
The statement said that when the police constable arrived at the scene, he contacted the alleged assailant and an argument ensued between them. “Eyewitnesses claimed that the policeman struck the assailant on his head with the firearm and he fell, after which it is further alleged that the policeman discharged a round at the assailant, hitting him in the upper chest,” it further said.
It added that the constable was located around 6 am on Saturday with the firearm still in his possession in the vicinity of the Tiperu Crossing and was arrested.
The policeman, Lyndon Thompson, was charged with attempted murder. On August 10th, he appeared before city magistrate Leron Daly and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He was placed on $150,000 bail with the conditions that he surrender his passport to the court and make a report to F Division every Monday.
Williams’s father, Bransford Williams, yesterday told Stabroek News that his son was discharged from the hospital on Saturday. Bransford said as a result of the incident, Sean sustained massive internal bleeding and damage to his lungs.
The frustrated father explained that it has been difficult on him. “My son had to do a scan the other day that cost $30,000 and I had to find the money on my own,” Bransford said.
According to Bransford, Thompson approached him days after he was charged and placed before the court and offered to settle the matter but he refused. He said, “My son was sick and he’s now recovering. I can’t take that decision; it will be up to him if he want to take the compensation or not.”
