The family of a 38-year-old block maker is seeking answers after he died while in Police custody.
The dead man has been identified as Delon Lawrence of De Kinderen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.
His family only managed to locate and positively identify his remains after a picture of his corpse was posted on the Guyana Police Force’s Facebook page. The Police asked for the public’s assistance in identifying him.
During an interview with the News Room on Wednesday, a relative of the dead man, who asked to remain anonymous said he succumbed on March 16 while in custody at the Parfaite Harmonie Police station.
According to the relative, the family was informed that Lawrence entered a route 31 minibus. The minibus stopped at La Grange Old Road where Lawrence and the driver allegedly had an altercation.
“They said that he (Lawrence)… juk a pregnant woman and a male in the bus,” the relative told the News Room.
She said an alarm was reportedly raised and villagers advanced towards Lawrence and dealt him several blows about his body.
A Police patrol that was passing at the time picked Lawrence up and took him to the station.
The relative said the family questions validity of the account of what transpired but more important, they want to know why Lawrence was not taken for medical attention.
“Our question is, if you had picked up somebody that was badly beaten…why not take the person to the hospital? Why take the person to the station?” the relative questioned.
She added, “If it is that you said he was beaten so badly…you should have taken him to the hospital. At least he would have had a chance to pull through or something.
“Because if they catch a thief or shoot a thief they would take him to the hospital and handcuff him.”
A post-mortem examination revealed that Lawrence died as a result of trauma of the head and broken ribs.
Lawrence’s relative said the family is concerned.
“We want to know what exactly happen. Something is missing…You taking an injured man to the station knowing very well that you should render assistance is total nonsense. Against Police protocol,” the relative noted.
The Police have not issued an official statement on this incident.
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