THREE days after being slapped with a charge of murdering Police Corporal, Romain Cleto, Shaka Chase was yesterday informed by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that he was free to leave the court, as the charge against him had been withdrawn.

A packed courtroom heard that this decision was made following advice from Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack. Chase is the same man who police said gave a confession statement and who was found with gunpowder residue on his hands.
Chase, 26, of 169 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the capital offence when he appeared in court last Monday.
Particulars of the charge said, last April 27, near Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, around 18.45hrs, he murdered Cleto, a police officer acting in the execution of his duties.
The number of relatives and friends who turned up in support of Chase yesterday was too great for everyone to have been afforded a seat inside Court One of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The majority subsequently had to stand in the corridor.
Meanwhile, a crowd also gathered opposite the court on Middle Street, with placards that urged Chase to be afforded his liberty. “Free Shaka Chase!” could be heard across the street as he was being escorted to the courtroom a few minutes after 09:00hrs.
After the magistrate announced her decision, police could not contain the crowd which ran downstairs along with Chase, clapping and cheering him on. “Thank You, Father” said a little old lady inside the courtroom.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has said that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) will commence an investigation into allegations that Chase was tortured while in police custody.
The Guyana Police Force said in a statement Monday that it strongly denied that Chase was assaulted or tortured in any way while in police custody.
On the same day of the murder, Chase reportedly went to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and told the officers there that he had received information that he was wanted for the murder of the policeman.
At that time police investigators were still processing the scene and interviewing persons and had no information as to any suspect. However, Chase was interviewed and his hands were swabbed.
The laboratory report subsequently indicated that the swab from Chase’s hands was positive for gunpowder residue, police had reported.
The police further stated that Chase gave a confession statement in which he named three associates, one of whom had been arrested previously. Swabs taken from this individual had also tested positive for gunpowder residue, police said.