IT HAS long been the contention of this newspaper that the courts have contributed significantly to the crime-wave in Guyana by the injudicious decisions made by bleeding-heart and unconscionable magistrates and judges over the years.This has, in a large way, de-motivated police from fully executing their mandate of providing service and protection to the populace, because many times police lay their lives on the line to apprehend the criminals preying on members of the public, only to see them once again roaming the streets, engaged in their proclivity to thieving and robbing citizens, sometimes with dire consequences when a victim is even killed, or even severely injured during the commission of a crime.
And there are unending calls for citizens to play an active role in crime detection and prevention, but how supportive is the judiciary to this scenario, where citizens, and even police, are forced to use force to deter and catch criminals, armed or unarmed, in the act? The following example is a case in point.
Lawrence Wayne was going about his business peacefully when a businesswoman raised an alarm of an invasion of armed robbers in her place of business on the Merriman’s Mall. Wayne, a licensed firearm holder, responded, forcing the thieves to retreat to their vehicle and flee.
According to a police report, at approximately 13:15 hrs on August 23, 2014, two men armed with handguns entered the Beverage Paradise stall at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Georgetown. Upon seeing the men, the female owner ran and raised an alarm, and a licensed firearm holder responded.
It was further alleged that the two armed men entered a waiting motor vehicle driven by an accomplice, and were tracked by the licensed firearm holder, who subsequently saw the getaway car at Light and Fifth Streets, Alberttown.
Police say that the licensed firearm holder confronted a man who had exited the car and entered a shop in the area, during which confrontation the man pulled out a firearm and was shot to his abdomen by the licensed firearm holder. The man, however, managed to escape on foot, but the unlicensed .32 Beretta pistol with four rounds that he had in his possession was recovered and handed over to the police.
The injured bandit was later found at a private hospital where he later succumbed.
However, instead of the kudos he deserves, Lawrence Wayne was arrested and remanded on a charge of murder.
It is hardly likely that these bandits had not committed similar crimes in the past; it is extremely possible that they harmed their victims during the commission of these crimes, because the guns were not acquired by them to be used as playthings.
One wonders if Wayne should not have interceded; or if, having responded to the victim’s cries for help, he should have quietly submitted to the bandit’s firing live bullets at him.
Wayne was forced to become a fugitive, having been forced to flee from the police, which is always begging for assistance from the public in its crime-fighting efforts.
Upon his return home, he was, unbelievably, arrested and charged with murder as soon as he set foot in his homeland. Today, he has been remanded to prison, with his fate and future hanging in the balance; his business, personal and family life have been completely upturned.

Dexter Lindo was a career criminal engaged in a robbery; he was armed with a gun. Wayne is a businessman who rescued a victim from this criminal and his accomplices, going that extra mile in a bid to apprehend them. He was shot at by Lindo, and he returned fire. So, how does that make him a murderer?
This man is no criminal, but a hero deserving of a medal.
Mr Bumble, a shady character in Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” described the law as “ An ass; an idiot.”
Although this exclamation of Dickens’ villainous character emerged from a different context and set of circumstances, what better example is needed to verify Mr. Bumble’s observation of his characterization of the law than the foregoing matter of the State versus Lawrence Wayne?