Just over a month after he allegedly pulled the trigger on a civilian because the civilian had refused to hand over his backpack, Police rank James Bowman was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to a charge alleging that on June 25, 2017 at Omai Landing in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he discharged a loaded firearm at Glen McCurdy with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm to McCurdy’s person.
The unrepresented Bowman told the court he is 29 years old, hails from Mocha, East Bank Demerara, and is a constable of the Guyana Police Force, stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) in Eve Leary, Georgetown.
He also denied the allegation, and was released on his own recognizance.
The case will continue on October 17 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
Reports are that on the day of the incident, Police patrolling the Omai area saw VC McCurdy with a haversack on his back acting in a suspicious manner.
He was reportedly accosted, but whipped out a chopper from his bag and advanced on the Police. He fired several chops at the officers, and ignored orders to drop the weapon.
According to the Prosecution’s case, McCurdy was subsequently shot to the abdomen; and he dropped his bag, which was searched by Police and found to contain a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
McCurdy has since been charged with trafficking 320 grams of cannabis, and has been remanded to prison.
