Five police officers were charged and remanded to prison on Friday in connection with the death of 32-year-old Gavin Kennard Douglas, who died while in custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station on the West Coast of Demerara. The accused—Tiansay Thomas, Wencill Marshall, Joel Newsum, Bevis Lyle, and Ariff Haniff—appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman to face a joint capital charge of murder. The charge alleges that the officers murdered Douglas on October 31, 2026. The defendants were not required to enter a plea to the indictable offense and were remanded to custody. The matter is scheduled to resume on November 17, 2026, at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court. Douglas, a laborer from Crane Housing Scheme, was arrested on October 31 in connection with an alleged armed robbery that occurred on October 28. According to the Guyana Police Force’s initial report, Douglas was taken into custody at approximately 11:36 a.m. Police claimed that he became aggressive while being placed in a cell at noon. They stated that during a routine check at 12:45 p.m., he was found frothing at the mouth and was transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination conducted on November 2 by government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh determined that Douglas died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Two taser probes were recovered from his body during the examination. The investigation into the death has been marked by allegations from Terence Kishore, a man detained alongside Douglas. Kishore alleged that he witnessed four officers use tasers on Douglas and restrain him with electrical wiring after Douglas refused to remove his clothing. Kishore further claimed that he heard Douglas shouting from the back of the station before the noise abruptly ceased. He also alleged that officers changed their uniforms following the incident and raised concerns regarding the security of the station’s digital video recording system. Douglas’s family has expressed significant distress over the circumstances of his death. His sister, Reanna Douglas, stated that her brother was intercepted by officers in an unmarked vehicle prior to his arrest. The family has also raised questions regarding the accounting of Douglas’s personal belongings, including cash and jewelry. Notably, Douglas’s mother, Colette Jones, is an inspector stationed at the same facility where the incident occurred. Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond has pledged a thorough and impartial investigation, emphasizing the state’s responsibility to ensure the safety of individuals in custody. The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is currently conducting an inquiry into the matter.
Article source: Kaieteur News | Image credit: Kaieteur News