Court Denies Bail for Venezuelans Accused in Police Attack

January 23 2025- Four Venezuelan nationals accused of attempting to murder Police Constable Nathaniel Gittens
were once again denied bail by the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

This decision comes nearly two months after their initial arrest, despite vigorous arguments
presented by their attorney-at-law.

Victoria La Cruz, 21, a domestic worker; Gabriel Campose, 19, a labourer; Lilbeth Valasquez, 37;
and Jesus Herrea, 26, also a labourer, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty.

The group faces an indictable charge and was not required to enter a plea.

They have been remanded to custody until February 19, 2025, to allow police to finalise the
case file, review closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, and seek guidance from the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The defence attorney petitioned for bail under reporting conditions, presenting a witness, Bibi
Khan, to establish the defendants’ ties to the community.

Khan testified that she had known the accused for over five years and that they lived near her
in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). However, during cross-examination, Khan admitted
she could not provide specific lot numbers for the defendants’ residences.

The defence lawyer underscored Khan’s testimony as proof of the defendants’ community ties
but failed to convince the Magistrate, who deemed the evidence insufficient.

Magistrate Mc Gusty cited the prosecution’s arguments, including the risk of flight, in denying
bail. She noted the lack of verifiable addresses and other substantial ties to Guyana as critical
factors in her decision.

The Magistrate emphasised that the prosecution’s objections were valid and justified.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred around 11:45 PM on November 23, 2024, on
Cornhill Street, Georgetown.

Constable Gittens, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Brickdam Police
Station, was on foot patrol in plain clothes near the Stabroek Market area.

Armed with a .38 revolver, Gittens encountered a Spanish-speaking woman holding a broken
bottle during a confrontation with another woman.

When Gittens identified himself and attempted to intervene, four individuals reportedly
approached him from behind. One attacker, armed with a knife, allegedly stabbed him multiple
times.

Despite his injuries, Constable Gittens fired four warning shots into the air, prompting the
attackers to flee.

An Impact Patrol team rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC),
where he was treated for multiple stab wounds and subsequently discharged.

The four suspects, along with the two women involved in the initial altercation, were arrested.

Two of the suspects were hospitalised due to injuries sustained during the brawl. One suspect,
identified as Luis La Cruz, later died in police custody reportedly from abdominal gunshot
wounds.

Crime scene technicians processed the location, capturing photographic evidence and
canvassing the area for CCTV footage.