A jury was yesterday finally selected for the long delayed Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Jermaine Canterbury, Mark Anthony Joseph, and Romario Gouveia, who were fatally shot by police almost two years ago.
However, the families of the three young men will have to wait until January 29th next year before the inquest begins before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 10.
The announcement was made yesterday by Magistrate Moore after the jury was selected and sworn in.
Over a year ago, then Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had said that the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibil-ity (OPR) had recommended that an inquest be held into the deaths of cousins Canterbury, 21, and Joseph, called “Two Grand,” 19 and Gouveia, 19,
Three Albouystown youths were fatally shot on South Road, in the vicinity of K&VC on October 12th, 2013.
The police had stated that moments before they were shot, the three young men had exited a car near the K&VC hotel, where they were allegedly going to commit an armed robbery. Police said ranks had received information that an occupant of the hotel was the target, and they had been staking out the building. They said they challenged the three youths as they were making their way to the hotel and the men opened fire, forcing them to return fire.
Witnesses had, however, told this newspaper that the youths were put to lie on the roadway in front of the hotel and then shot. Persons close to the Georgetown Hospital had also recalled hearing at least two gunshots moments before the police arrived at the hospital gate with the wounded men.
Based on what Stabroek News had been told, Canterbury was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Hospital, while Joseph died shortly after arriving at the facility. Gouveia died suddenly in the hospital two days after.
Before Gouveia died, he said that he was further up the road when the police approached him and ordered him back to the vicinity of the hotel. When he arrived near the hotel, Gouveia said, Canterbury and Joseph were lying face down on the road bleeding. He assumed that they were dead. It was at this point, he said, that he was told to lie down and then was shot as well.
Police also claimed that the slain youths were members of the Albouystown-based “Hot Skull” gang.
A Coroner’s Inquest is an inquiry into an unnatural death. It is conducted by a Magistrate, who acts as Coroner, and heard by a jury with a minimum of three persons and no more than five persons.
In the inquest, the Coroner reviews statements of the witnesses which are also heard by the jurors, who at the end of the inquest and deliberations determine who is criminally liable for the death of the deceased. Among the determinations of the inquest are: when the killing occurred, where, what caused the death and who, if anyone, is criminally liable.
If from the inquest anyone is found to be criminally liable, the file is sent within seven days to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
After that, there will be a determination as to who is to be charged by the police for the murder for a subsequent commencement of a preliminary inquiry.
