A POST-MORTEM performed yesterday on the body of Ryan Couchman, who was fatally shot on Sunday last, revealed that he died as a result of gunshot injuries to the chest, police said.Even as the man’s wife, Natasha Couchman spoke to the media about the shooting death of her spouse, the police up to yesterday maintained that they have not found any discrepancies with the detailed statement given by the cop; as such, they are standing by him until other evidence proves him wrong.

Although this publication spoke to several persons, including eyewitnesses who gave different versions of what had transpired, the police are contending that Ryan Couchman was fatally shot during a robbery.

Ryan Couchman, 34, of Lot 1360 18th Street, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was a known criminal and “trunker,” according to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Crime Chief Leslie James, who was recently promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner, told this publication that Couchman was known to the GPF and their records revealed that he had been charged for several armed robberies and was a known “trunker.”

He explained that based on their probe, they have found nothing wrong with the statement submitted by the policeman, who discharged the round which killed Couchman on Sunday at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway junction.

James said that they are still investigating, and ranks are out there taking statements from eyewitnesses and so forth.

He added that Couchman and the cop, who was off-duty at that time, had an altercation earlier at the creek outside Splashmins Fun Park and later that day, the group that Couchman was “liming” with decided to “tackle” the cop while they were at a shop by the junction.

James noted that it was then that Couchman advanced on the policeman during the ruckus with a broken bottle and slashed him on the mouth; the cop managed to get hold of his weapon and fired a round which struck Couchman

The crime chief stated that the GPF is not taking sides, and that the matter is being looked at intensely and pointed out that the cop involved is on sick leave.

Subsequent to the fatal shooting of Ryan Couchman on Sunday afternoon by an off-duty cop at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway junction, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the police said he was shot during a robbery, while his relatives and friends said he was shot dead in cold blood during a misunderstanding.

The police in a press statement after 09:00 hrs on Sunday night said they have launched an investigation into an incident that occurred about 19:00 hrs on January 4, 2015, in which an armed policeman in plainclothes was attacked and robbed of his gold jewellery by three men at Soesdyke, EBD.

During the robbery the policeman, who was being repeatedly assaulted by the perpetrators, discharged a round which fatally wounded one of the men who was identified as Ryan Couchman, 34, of Diamond, EBD. The two accomplices managed to escape.

The injured policeman received medical treatment at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD.

Ryan Couchman is known to the police and has been previously charged on a number of occasions for robbery under arms.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts narrate a scene in which Couchman and a group of friends were on an outing at the creek and were drinking and having fun when a quarrel started between the cop and a member of his group. That was eventually settled before it escalated into a fight.

After leaving the creek, Couchman and his friends decided to stop for beverages before going home at a hangout spot by the junction at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway when the cop showed up and a row started then a fight ensued.

It was during the fracas that Couchman was fatally shot when he intervened as a peacemaker, eyewitnesses said.

Although four rounds were discharged, only one struck Couchman and he was conveyed to the Diamond Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The man’s wife Natasha Couchman, told the media that her spouse was at the creek along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway with friends earlier and had stopped at the junction to have some beverages when they once again encountered the off- duty cop.

Couchman was the father of two and was said to be a miner.

(By Michel Outridge)