POLICE Cadet Officer Franz Paul, of Lot 189 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, appeared yesterday before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore to answer an allegation that he had shot 15-year-old Alex Griffith in his mouth on April 30, 2014 at Georgetown.
A raft of other charges was slapped on him, all of which he pleaded not guilty of committing.
One of the charges detailed that on April 30, at Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted Alex Griffith.
Another alleged that on the same day, at Georgetown, he inflicted grievous bodily harm on the teenager.
The third charge alleged that on the same day, with intent to maim, disfigured or disable, he discharged a loaded firearm at Griffith.
The fourth allegation, of which he has been jointly charged with 31-year-old Police Corporal Bachand Singh, indicated that on Thursday, May 1, at Georgetown, they conspired with each other to pervert the course of justice.
Police Inspector Steven Telford, prosecuting, said the accused Paul and Singh are both serving members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF); and that on April 30, Paul’s sister was robbed and he subsequently took her to the police station to make a report. After the report had been made, Griffith was arrested by a party of policemen, among which was Cadet Officer Paul.
Paul allegedly placed a firearm in Griffith’s mouth and fired a shot. Griffith received injuries and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient.
A report was subsequently made to the police and an investigation was launched, during which Paul was held under close arrest. Within that time, Corporal Bachand Singh took the arms and ammunition record book to Paul for entries to be altered. The Prosecutor noted that Paul had made a call and asked Singh to take the book to him at Mahaica, but later refused to alter the information.
Inspector Telford said all investigations have been completed and legal advice has been sought, hence the present charges have been laid. He requested that bail be denied on ground of the seriousness of the offences, and particularly because efforts had been made to pervert the course of justice.
The prosecutor said that if bail is granted, the likelihood is that the duo would interfere with the witnesses, since an attempt had already been made in that regard. Moreover, he said, the men may flee the jurisdiction once they have been bailed.
He requested that the duo return to court on June 30 for statements, based on the completion of the file. He said the prosecution has a total of 35 statements in the matter.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Roger Yearwood represented Paul. He told the court that his client shares a common-law relationship and has no children. He added that Paul has been a member of the Force since 2008, and presently serves as a cadet officer.
On the issue of bail, the lawyer argued that seriousness of the offence cannot be used for refusing bail in the premise of the law; determination of whether the accused may pose a flight risk should be the determinant. He said that since the allegation was leveled, the accused was held under close arrest, and he assured the court that his client would return for his trial.
Defence counsel said what is before the court is only the prosecution’s bold assertion that Paul may pose a flight risk. Yearwood said all offences are serious, and accordingly, every accused should be denied pretrial liberty. He said the allegation had been given much sensationalised publicity in the media, and asked for reasonable bail, stating that police personnel are grossly underpaid professionals.
The defendant Singh was represented by Attorney-at-law Arun Gajraj, in association with Attorney-at-law Ms. Keisha Chase. Gajraj said his client has been a member of the Force since 2003, and has an unblemished record.
He said his client does not pose a flight risk, since he came on his own and has been fully cooperating with the police since the allegations had first surfaced.
He emphasised that both defendants were instructed to attend court, and they did so dutifully; and he said his client has no pending or prior matter, and that neither man had any difficulty in lodging his passport or reporting to the police.
Gajraj said his client is married, has a child of minor age, and resides at the Beterverwagting Police Station compound on the East Coast of Demerara.
Griffith was represented by Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, and was accompanied to court by his mother, Marcel Griffith.
For conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, each defendant was placed on $150,000 bail.
As regards the other three charges, Paul was ordered to post $75,000 on the unlawful assault charge, but refused bail on the inflicting grievous bodily harm and discharging a loaded firearm offences. Both defendants will return to court on June 30, for statements.
Written By Geeta Rampersaud