ACTING Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell yesterday told the media that, because the file concerning the October 5 Dameon Belgrave shooting death had been submitted to Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Justice Cecil Kennard, for advice, the police are awaiting the PCA response before making their next move. He was answering questions posed by reporters following the Guyana Police Force Awards Ceremony, which was held at the Police Officers’ Mess at Eve Leary, yesterday.

A post-mortem had revealed that Dameon Belgrave, who was shot and killed at the White Castle Fish Shop at Hadfield and John Streets by the police while they were pursuing occupants in a motorcar on October 5, had died from shock and haemorrhage as a result of a penetrative gunshot wound.

The Top Cop added that the police investigative report is with Justice Cecil Kennard to clear up some points, and he does not know how long that exercise would take to be completed.

Shortly before the Commissioner’s response, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had told the Guyana Chronicle that Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan had since submitted the post-mortem report to the police, after which the file had been returned to the Police Complaints Authority.

Justice Kennard has to make his assessment before the file could be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Shalimar Ali-Hack, for further advice.

Persaud said the file had been with the DPP for a similarly lengthy period, after which the DPP had advised that further investigations be carried out by the police. He added that the three cops who had shot and killed Belgrave a night before his 22nd birth anniversary had been under close arrest after an extension by the DPP had been granted; but the policemen have since been returned to active duty.

The police had reported that  around 21:30 hours on October 5, 2012, ranks of a mobile police patrol at “B” Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, had challenged the occupants of motor car PGG 3506 after it was observed that they were attempting to evade the police as the patrol approached.

A chase ensued around the streets of Georgetown, and motor car PGG 3506 eventually stopped in Hadfield Street, and five men exited the vehicle. During efforts to arrest them, rounds were discharged, and it was later learnt that Dameon Belgrave, 21, of Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, a bystander on the roadway in the vicinity of the White Castle Fish Shop, had been shot to his left side. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC.

Three of the suspects were arrested and were in police custody. The motor car was also  detained.