Amnesty urges publication of Bourne inquest findings
Amnesty International is requesting that the findings into the death of Victor Bourne, who was shot and killed by a party of policemen, be published in full. On April 14, a four-member jury concluded after an inquest, that no one could be held criminally responsible for Bourne's death since the officers were acting in self defence. Bourne was fatally shot on June 19, 1998 at his Rasville home by members of the Quick Reaction Group. A release from the organisation said that the police's version of the shooting appeared to be contradicted by eyewitness testimony. The release said that whilst police reports allegedly indicated that he opened fire after being confronted by the police, witnesses stated that he was still in bed when the police shot him and that the police fabricated evidence to suggest that Bourne had shot them. According to the release, the organisation believes that disclosing the findings of the investigations into incidents of disputed police shootings is crucial to building confidence within the Guyanese public in law enforcement agencies and in their ability to act within a framework of law and accountability. "Failure to properly inform the public may effectively guarantee a system of impunity in such cases," the release said. Amnesty said that it had repeatedly expressed concern that the use of force by law enforcement officials in Guyana appeared to be excessive in many cases. It said that in March it urged the Government of Guyana to pay particular attention to the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which had just reviewed Guyana's second periodic report on allegations of extra-judicial killings and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials. "To prevent a system which fosters a climate of impunity, all incidents of excessive use of police force should be promptly and thoroughly investigated by an impartial body," Amnesty said. "In cases where human rights violations are found to have taken place, offenders should be prosecuted and effective remedies provided to victims. Policy and practice for law enforcement officials should conform to international human rights standards."
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