A 23-year-old man who was allegedly abused by the police because he stole a blanket belonging to the army was yesterday placed on self bail when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Deon Newton of 151 Friendship, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
A tearful Newton, who told the court that the left side of his head was paining because the police beat him, said he knew nothing about the blanket that it is alleged he stole.
The only blanket, Newton said, that he knew of in his house was a white knitted covering he had received during the flood in 2005.
On February 1, the day in question, Newton explained that he was at home cooking and went to the shop to get some items he needed.
It was while he was returning home from purchasing these items that a soldier approached him in front of his house and told him to get into the back of the van and then a policeman subsequently began to lash him, demanding that he tell them “where the bandits were.”
Newton further told the court that the joint services accused him of being linked to murders he knew nothing about and burnt his finger in an attempt to extract information about things he’s clueless about.
He also said that they raided his home and produced a military blanket which he hasn’t seen to date.
The matter was transferred to the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court for February 22.
