The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recently withdrew the charge against one of the men fingered in the murder of GPL’s Chief Security Officer four months ago after evidence surfaced that he was not picked out of an ID parade.
Arnim Griffith, 22, was set free just over a week ago following the DDP’s order to have the case against him withdrawn. His co-accused, Paul James remains on trial. The two were indicted on the capital offence in May this year for allegedly murdering Clifford Peters, while he was on an operation removing illegal electricity connections in the Lamaha Park squatting area.
Griffith’s attorney, Basil Williams told Stabroek News the order from the DDP came after an employee of Guyana Power and Light wrote to the authorities saying he did not point out Griffith during the identification parade. The statement was subsequently forwarded to the DPP’s office.
On May 11, 2009 when Griffith was charged Williams argued vigorously that the police had charged the wrong man and he called on the force to properly investigate the case. He repeatedly stated during a bail application there was no evidence linking his client to the crime. The lawyer said Griffith was stopped by a mobile police patrol while he was riding his uncle’s motorcycle and subsequently detained after he failed to produce documents for the motorcycle. The relevant documents were later tendered but the police continued to hold Griffith.
Williams said the police later charged Griffith with robbery underarms after holding him for more than 72 hours, but the following day he said his client was placed on an ID parade and was “allegedly picked out” as one of the persons involved in the murder of Peters. His client was then charged with murder. Following his submissions, the court prosecutor had requested time to seek legal advice from the DPP on the matter. Peters died shortly after one of two armed men shot him in the neck, chest and about his body. He was rushed to the Davis Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Police in a press statement had said they were investigating the murder, which occurred while Peters and other GPL personnel were engaged in the removal of illegal electricity connections. Two men had reportedly approached linesman Allan Savory. An argument developed and Savory called out to Peters who intervened and was shot multiple times by one of the men. The men, according to the police, escaped with Peters’ licensed revolver. A senior police source had said that the motive of the attack was not robbery.
