AS more revelations surface about the incident on Sunday which claimed the life of Ryan Couchman, 34, of Lot 1360 18th Street, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) maintains that he was a known criminal and “trunker.”

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 have revealed that he had

been charged for several armed robberies and was a known “trunker” (a person, who breaks into cars).

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 a row earlier at the creek outside Splashmins Fun Park; and later that day the group that the deceased was “liming” with decided to “tackle” the cop while they were at a shop by the junction.

James noted that it was then Couchman advanced on the policeman during the ruckus with a broken bottle and slashed him in the mouth. The cop then 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 the matter is being looked at intensely and pointed out that the cop involved is on sick leave.
Subsequent to the incident, the police had said he was killed during a robbery while his relatives and friends said he was shot dead in cold blood during a misunderstanding.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts narrated 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 Couchman’s group. That was eventually settled before it culminated in a fight.

After leaving the creek, Couchman and his friends decided to stop for beverages at a bar at the junction of the Soesdyke public road and the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, when the cop showed up; the row then resumed and 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 encountered the off duty cop.

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

Police in a press statement after 09:00 hrs on Sunday night said they have launched an investigation into an incident that occurred at 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 has been 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 had been previously charged on a number of occasions for robbery under arms.

(By Michel Outridge)