-$2M compensation paid to victim

BASED upon advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Police Cadet Officer Franz Paul was discharged for allegedly shooting a 16-year-old in his mouth during a game of Russian roulette in 2014.

Paul, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, was on trial before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the past four years.

He was on trial for discharging a loaded firearm at Alex Griffith on April 30, 2014 in Georgetown, with the intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.
The State, for which evidence was being led by Police Prosecutor Dominic Bess, had already closed its case while seeking an adjournment on the last court hearing.
However, the Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that Paul compensated Griffith $2M for his injuries.

Griffith accepted the compensation and dropped the matter against Paul.
With the parties both reaching an agreement, the DPP advised that Paul be discharged from the matter since the virtual compliant would not be offering any evidence against him.
In 2014 also, Paul was charged alongside Corporal Bachan Singh for conspiring with each other to pervert the course of justice. This matter was dismissed in 2017 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan due to the lack of evidence.

According to reports on April 30, 2014 Paul’s sister was robbed and he subsequently took her to the police station to make a report. After the report was made, Griffith was arrested by a party of policemen among them being 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.