Policeman jailed for 25 years for shooting death of Essequibo businessman

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 July 2025, 19:59 by Writer

A member of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit was Thursday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for manslaughter committed on Dartmouth, Essequibo businessman Orin Boston.

The 25-year sentence is to be computed from June 25—the date the jury returned its verdict and Peters was remanded to prison.

Boston, a father of two, was shot dead in his bed when SWAT members launched an operation on two houses.

Constable Sherwin Peters was subsequently charged with the unlawful death on September 15, 2021 at Boston’s residence on Hoppie Street, Dartmouth.

Justice Sandil Kissoon noted that the operation was carried out without a search warrant, arrest warrant, or any lawful authority.

“The actions of Peters were unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified, disproportionate, and excessive,” Justice Kissoon said during sentencing. “The resort to lethal force was without any basis against an unarmed man asleep in his bed,” He added.

Justice Kissoon said Peters’ claim that a confrontation had occurred was contradicted by both the testimony of his fellow officers and the findings of the crime scene investigators.

The sentencing hearing included a probation report on Peters, victim impact statements from Boston’s family, a psychiatric evaluation of the convict, as well as submissions on aggravating factors by the prosecution and mitigating factors by the defence.