THE jury’s decision to return a not-guilty verdict in the Quancy John murder trial is indicative that justice is still alive and well in Guyana. The ex-policeman was freed of all charges surrounding the shooting death of Kelvin Fraser. From the inception of this case the charges made against John was tainted with politics and media hype, which meant that the jury hearing this matter had the herculean task of separating fact from fiction. And seeing juries are not sequestered in Guyana, they also had the equally daunting task of disassociating themselves from “popular” sentiments, while keeping an open mind.

Popular sentiments, as well as witnesses of convenience, conveyed the belief that young Fraser was fleeing the scene when the policeman shot him in cold blood. However, the accused’s testimony, which was validated by the post-mortem report, speaks to the lad being shot at close range, which is inconsistent with the so-called popular view of him running away then receiving the fatal bullet.
The post-mortem corroborated John’s story that there was a struggle and some attempt to relieve the lawman of his weapon when he was shot. Two conflicting accounts of the same event, with one having direct links to the doctor’s report – whom should we believe? The jury was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt and rendered the accused a not-guilty verdict.

Now this case is synonymous with an ongoing matter in the magistrate court involving another lawman in a baton rape case. Here again, the jury would be called upon to render a verdict. They would again have to separate fact from fiction, popular sentiments or a doctor’s report. And when I say a doctor’s report I speak of the primary health care provider who examined and treated him for his ailments. This would have to juxtapose that evidence against other medical reports made two months after the initial health care provider. Whom should they believe – the “doctor of convenience”, whom is known for his corrupt reports, or the independent medical examiner? We await the result of that case.
I close by saying much of what we see going on in Guyana today is tainted by political and crass media misrepresentation. It has reached frightening proportions. However, thank God for our courts and jurors who oftentimes see through the schemes to come up with the right decision. This is not always the case but, from time to time, justice and fairness is served in our courts.
NEIL ADAMS