Cops charged for allegedly burning boy in custody

TIMES INT'L
Nineteen-year-old Junior Thorrington gestures with his bandaged hands at the hospital
Nineteen-year-old Junior Thorrington gestures with his bandaged hands at the hospital

Two ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were placed before the court on Tuesday, facing charges which stemmed from an allegation of torture made by 19-year-old Junior Thorrington while in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station over a month ago.

Police Inspector Dexter Thornton and Constable Earwin Forrester both appeared before Magistrate Sueann Lovell at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, slapped with separate charges arising out of the incident. Inspector Thornton was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and was placed on Gy$100,000 bail while Forrester faced an inflicting grievous bodily harm charge and was given bail in the sum of Gy$125,000.

The two officers, who were stationed at Sparendaam Police Station, will make their next court appearance on August 18.

Thorrington, of Eastville Housing Scheme, Annandale, East Coast Demerara alleged that his hands were burnt by the Police while he was in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station between May 25 and May 27.

The teenager sustained second-degree burns to both hands after the Police reportedly doused them with Methylated Spirits before setting them on fire during his interrogation. According to reports, the teenager was arrested for loitering, but was later accused of carrying out a string of robberies.

Thorrington’s case echoes that of Twyon Thomas who, during an investigation into the killing of retired Region Three Vice Chairman Ramnauth Bisram in 2009, was also burnt with Methylated Spirits, but on his genitals.

The Guyana Police Force has been constantly under fire for torture meted out to citizens, with a recent example being the incident involving 15-year-old Alex Griffith who was shot in his mouth by a Police Officer. Then in November last year, Colwyn Harding claimed that Police Officers at the Timehri Police Station have inserted a condom-covered baton into his rectum. Ranks involved in both incidents have been charged and their matters are currently before the courts.

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