A FORMER Georgetown City Constabulary Lance Corporal who was on trial for the unlawful killing of Marlon Fredericks in 2018 was acquitted on Thursday after Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry upheld a no-case submission in the Demerara High Court.
The details of charge against Gregory Bascom, 53, was that on January 14, 2018, at Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown, he killed Fredericks, a 34-year-old vendor.
The prosecution failed to prove that Bascom had committed the offence manslaughter, according to Yuborn Allicock, Bascom’s lawyer, in the no-case submission.

The submission was upheld by trial Judge Sewnarine-Beharry, who then instructed the mixed 12-member jury to return a formal not guilty verdict in Bascom’s favour. While awaiting the hearing and determination of his trial, Bascom was out on $800,000 bail.
Fredericks was allegedly being held at the City Constabulary Outpost at Bourda on allegations of simple larceny and assault of a peace officer when he was shot by Bascom.

It is alleged that he forced his way out of the lock-ups after it was opened by another rank to let out another prisoner to use the toilet. A struggle reportedly ensued between Fredericks and Basom, who tried to restrain him, and in the process the prisoner (victim) ran out the outpost and was fatally shot once in the lower back by the Lance Corporal.
Police recovered eight live rounds and a spent shell at the crime scene.

Relatives said Fredericks of Tiger Bay, Georgetown attended St. Joseph’s High School and President’s College and had passed eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. The now-dead man, who was reportedly suffering from a mental illness for a while, was reportedly a known drug addict who also used to buy and sell small items.