As the probe into the death of 12-year-old Kayla Barnabas continues, Commander for Region Three, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine, has confirmed that the teen was struck down at the pedestrian crossing by the police pickup despite another vehicle having stopped for her to pass.
During a brief telephone interview with MTV News Update, Commander Siwnarine said that "the car was closer to the corner of the road where they stopped, so the police took the outside."
The Commander explained that authorities are still attempting to access Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to ascertain what transpired.
"It has places with footage, but none of them picked up that incident. Most of the businesses focus on their business and their entrance," the Commander posited while noting that "checks" are continuing.
On Wednesday, Kayla's mother, Somatee Lildar- Barnabas, told our team that she does not believe the version of events recounted by the GPF.
According to the grieving mother, 'I always warn (her) daughter to be careful on the road.'
In fact, an eyewitness relayed that Kayla was standing at the pedestrian crossing when a car stopped, and the driver put on his hazard lights to let her cross the road.
The eyewitness alleged that the police vehicle, which was speeding, overtook the halted vehicle and struck down the girl as she attempted to cross the road.
A West Demerara Secondary School student, Barnabas, was struck down at about 15:45h by a police pickup bearing registration number GXX 6575 at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
Reports are that the motor vehicle was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road when it was alleged that the schoolgirl ran from east to west across the road and into the pickup's path.
The Police Corporal who drove the vehicle is currently under close arrest. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced that they will be offsetting the child’s wake and funeral expenses.
