The death of Delon Lawrence

May 09, 2025

By Michael Jordan

Already under scrutiny for his poor handling of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and subsequent discovery of 11 Year old Adriana Younge’s body in a swimming pool, Assistant Commissioner of Police Khalid Mandal may now be asked to provide answers and clarity of another death within his division, weeks before the death of Adriana Younge.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Sewnarine, based on this publication may also be asked to provide an account in relation to this matter.

The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the death of 38 year old Delon Lawrence who died in police custody at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station on March 16, 2025.

In this case, Lawrence, a block maker from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, who was beaten by a mob but was later picked up by the police and taken to the Police Station rather than a hospital, even as he displayed severe signs of battery and was bleeding heavily.

A statement which emanated from Regional Division #3 then, alleged the ranks at La Grange and La Parfaite Harmonie had called the Emergency Medical Technicians on the night of Saturday, March 15 and during the early hours of Sunday, March 16 to examine Lawrence.

However there appears to be no records at the EMT La Grange division showing a call from the police on March 15. In-fact, there was a call placed to the EMT but that was done on the Sunday morning when Lawrence was found dead while in police custody according to family members.

According to them also, the ambulance service was only summoned at 2:00am on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

One operative within the EMT office at LaGrange told this publication that had the unit received a call from the police they would have responded promptly because their work load is not as heavy like that of Region 4. Demerara.

COVER UP?

Lawrence’s death was concealed from the media for weeks. At the time of Lawrence’s death, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Sewnarine was the Commander.

After the death of Lawrence became known, this newscast sought information from Commander Mandal who by that time had taken over from Siwnarine, about Lawrence’s then-unidentified body at the Ezekiel Funeral Home.

The then Region 3 Divisional Commander continued to ignore this newscast’s calls and phone messages, even after the dead man’s relatives had identified his body.

A press statement was finally issued a few hours after a video surfaced of the mob dragging Lawrence from a bus and clubbing him with sticks, and a photograph was circulated of his body on the station floor.

The statement alleged that Lawrence was in a bus at around 21.00 hrs on March 15, when he suddenly became violent and stabbed a female passenger in the face, neck and hand. The incident allegedly occurred on La Grange public road.

The woman reportedly fled from the bus and civilians subdued Lawrence, who had pursued her. She was treated at a hospital and sent away.

It is claimed that police who were summoned saw civilians pursuing the already injured Lawrence. The statement alleged that Lawrence choked a constable who attempted to arrest him, but was handcuffed and taken to La Grange Police Station. He reportedly continued to be disorderly, but was subdued, and ranks contacted the EMT for assistance.

It is alleged that the prisoner was then taken to La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station and placed in the passageway near to the lockup, while the ranks awaited the EMT. He was reportedly monitored regularly and “was responsive when called upon.”
It is alleged that around 01.57 the following day (March 16) a policeman observed that Lawrence was motionless. The EMT was summoned and on arrival, pronounced the prisoner dead.

The Cause of death was reported as due to subdural haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head, compounded my multiple fractured ribs.

BIG Smith News Watch understands that Lawrence was known to the police. He was charged a few months ago with the alleged assault of a female.

Assistant Police Commissioner Mandal was recently sent on administrative leave to facilitate the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, whose body was found in the pool of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.
Mandall had spearheaded operations at the hotel when Younge’s relatives had pleaded for police to conduct a thorough search of the building. Those requests were denied.

A police release erroneously stated that she was seen entering a black and red Raum as was reported by Mandal’s Division.

The subsequent discovery of her body in the hotel pool triggered days of violent protests, including the torching of the hotel and the owners’ residence, and the looting of a number of business places.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been modified to reflect that it was not Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandal who headed the Police Division in Region at on the date and time that Delon Lawrence died in police custody.