-granted $150, 000 bail

POLICE Constable, Troy Munroe, who was initially accused of murdering an unarmed civilian, appeared, on Tuesday, in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, charged with the lesser count of manslaughter. Constable Munroe was not required to plead to the charge and was later released on $150, 000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It is alleged that, on August 6, he unlawfully killed Cecil Sampat of Festival City, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Sampat died 12 days after the shooting.
Munroe, who is being represented by Attorney-at-law, Patrice Henry, will return to court on January 5, 2021. On August 14, Munroe was charged jointly with Corporal Godwin Thomas for the murder of Sampat. However, late last month, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charge against them. The Guyana

Chronicle was made to understand that the murder charge was instituted by the police without the advice of the DPP. The ranks were released on $500,000 bail, while the DPP instructed that further investigations be conducted. Last week, the DPP instructed that a manslaughter charge be instituted against Munroe.
When the investigation is complete, the DPP is expected to give further advice in relation to Thomas and another rank, Corporal Jacobs, regarding a charge for their alleged involvement in Sampat’s death.

According to reports, on July 25, 2020, Sampat was club hopping in motorcar, PYY 4432, with co-workers, Winston Fraser, Joshua Letlow and Seon Greenidge, when police opened fire on them at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. According to a police report, officers on patrol observed a large gathering at Agricola Public Road and approached the crowd and requested that they disperse. However, there was a fight between two men, one of whom whipped out a gun and pointed it in the direction of the other while trying to make his escape in a car bearing registration number PYY 4432. Ranks from the Impact Base Unit then traced a car from Agricola East Bank Demerara (EBD) to Mandela Avenue. They intercepted the car and proceeded to open fire on the men during which Sampat and Frazer received gunshot wounds to their backs. The other occupants, Seon Greenidge and Joshua Letlow, escaped unhurt. No firearm was found in the men’s possession. Sampat and Fraser were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Sampat died on August 6, 2020, while Fraser remains paralyzed, for the rest of his life.