Cop to stand trial for killing Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston

The Police Constable who is accused of fatally shooting Dartmouth, Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston at his home last year, was on Thursday committed to stand trial for manslaughter.

Sherwin Peter, 32, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam via Zoom at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on January 13, 2021.

After the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), the Magistrate ruled that sufficient evidence was established against Peters to warrant a trial by a jury before a Judge at the next practicable sitting of the Essequibo Criminal Assizes.

During the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court, Peters was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on September 15, 2021, at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, in he killed 29-year-old Boston.

The Policeman was granted $1,000,000 bail at his initial court appearance.

Months after the killing, the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that the Police rank be charged with manslaughter.

On the day in question, Police ranks from the SWAT Unit were conducting an anti-crime operation in the Police Regional Division 2 during which they went to the home of Boston.

During a search of the home, there was a confrontation between Boston and the Policeman, resulting in him being shot in his upper left arm.

Boston was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Following the incident, residents of the community commenced burning tyres and other debris on the main roadway at Dartmouth.

A post-mortem examination report listed Boston’s cause of death as haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries to the chest.

A single warhead was extracted from his body.