Overseas pathologist says dead Lindeners shot with ‘live rounds’ - metal fragments removed from bodies handed over to police ballistics expert PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 25 July 2012 23:27
VISITING overseas  Pathologist, Professor Hubert Daisley, who observed the post mortem performed yesterday by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh on the bodies of the three Lindeners shot dead during a stand-off with police during last Wednesday’s protest in the mining town, said those who died were shot with “live rounds”. Police have been claiming that the men were not shot with live rounds and even Linden hospital officials said based on preliminary entry wounds, it appeared that the men were shot with pellets.
Prof. Daisley told  reporters yesterday that, in his opinion, the men were not shot with high-calibre weapons, but noted that a proper determination of the calibre of weapons used will be based on the ballistic tests conducted by police.
He said the preliminary findings at the post-mortem revealed that “bronze-cropped lead” was removed from the bodies of the men.
Police Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Mr. Seelall Persaud told this newspaper yesterday that the metal fragments were removed from the bodies of the men, and were handed over to police ballistics experts, who will ascertain what kind of ammunition was used.
Persaud said the post mortems gave the cause of death of Ron Somerset as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot injuries; Allan Lewis as perforation of the lungs and stomach due to gunshot injuries; and Shemroy Bouyea as perforation of the heart due to gunshot wounds.
He noted that the bodies were thereafter handed over to the relatives for burial, but investigations into the matter are in progress.
After the shooting incident, relatives of the dead men, through several representatives, called for an independent overseas pathologist to be present during the post mortems which were delayed until the arrival of Professor  Daisley from Trinidad.
The bodies of the men were transported to the city via the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter last Friday, after residents took to the streets in their numbers, rendering the roads and bridges inaccessible.
Residents had blocked entry and exit points into Linden with debris, shutting down the entire town, as hundreds marched through the streets in protest against the electricity tariff increases.
On  the  night of Wednesday, July 18, things turned deadly when residents allegedly attacked the police, hurling missiles at them when they attempted to clear debris from bridges and roadways, and disperse the large gathering. The police then reportedly fired live rounds at the crowd, resulting in the deaths of three persons and injuring dozens.
This sparked angry outbursts from residents, who denied attacking the police even as they accused the lawmen of using excessive force to disperse a ‘peaceful’ protest.
Police confirmed that three persons were fatally wounded during the protest demonstrations at Linden on July 18.
Areas that were blocked by protestors and where fires were set on the roads included Half Mile, One Mile, Block 22, and Republic Drive in Wismar.
 
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