Police officer charged with murder

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

A 45-year-old police sergeant appeared before a magistrate on Friday, two weeks after he allegedly shot and killed 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters that sparked outrage in the mining town of Linden, leading to widespread demonstrations.

Sergeant Philbert Kendall was not required to enter a plea to the indictable murder charge when he made a brief appearance before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded in custody until May 9.

Following the shooting on April 7, Kendall allegedly transported the injured Peters to the Wismar Police Station before the young man was eventually taken to hospital for treatment. Despite medical intervention, Peters later succumbed to his injuries.

Peters was wanted for a rape that occurred sometime between December 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025.

News of the fatal shooting sparked outrage leading to widespread demonstrations and during these protests, 32-year-old Keon Fogenay, was also allegedly shot and killed by police.

Earlier this week, investigators from the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS) were reported to have completed their investigations into the death of Peters.

President Irfaan Ali had said that the RSS would assist local police in their probe of the deaths of Peters and Fogenay.

In a statement, the Guyana Police Force said that while the investigations into Peters had been completed, other witnesses had to be interviewed in the case of Fogenay “to complete the case before the file is submitted”.