Close to a month after the fatal shooting of Police Corporal, Dwayne McPherson and fisherman, Kishan Budburgh, a Police Constable was charged with two counts of manslaughter and placed on $1.6M bail.
The News Room understands that Police Constable 24908, Shane James of Perth Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared before Magistrate Melissa Mittelholzer at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court on January 25, 2023.
He was charged with two counts of manslaughter committed on Budburgh and McPherson on January 1, at Huntley, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
James was not required to plea to the charges and was placed on $800,000 bail for each charge. The case was adjourned to February 8, 2023.
Although the Guyana Police Force (GPF) promised to provide regular updates on the investigation, there was no official word on James’ court appearance.
The Police Force also never provided an update on the outcome of the probe by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
The shooting had occurred around 00:30hrs during a police operation at Huntley, Mahaicony.
At the time, three ranks, including McPherson, were responding to a report of a stabbing involving Budburgh and a group of individuals.
During the process of arresting Budburgh, a scuffle ensued and the men were wounded. Autopsies later revealed that 20-year-old Budburgh was shot three times while McPherson sustained two gunshot wounds.
During a previous interview with this journalist, Budburgh’s mother, Beverly Dundas had said when the shooting occurred she was not at home.
However, she related that she later learnt that Budburgh and his brothers were at a shop in the community when a scuffle ensued between him and a man.
As part of efforts to end the fight, one of Budburgh’s brothers intervened after which they left and went home.
Beverly added that Budburgh took a different route home and retired to bed.
Shortly after, she said the Police showed up and the confrontation ensued.
