Lance Corporal De Nobrega acquitted in Bacchus murder case

Police Lance Corporal Kristoff De Nobrega, 24, was acquitted after Justice Gino Persaud upheld a no-case submission filed by his attorney, George Thomas.

De Nobrega had been charged with the capital offence of murder and pleaded not guilty. The defence submitted a no-case submission after the prosecution concluded its presentation, arguing that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant a conviction.

The charge stemmed from the death of Quindon Bacchus, a father of one, who was shot and killed on June 10, 2022, during a police operation in Haslington, East Coast Demerara. Police reported that the incident occurred after Bacchus, who was allegedly armed, attempted to flee from ranks during a sting operation aimed at intercepting the sale of a firearm.

Following the shooting, Bacchus was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The case sparked widespread public outcry and protests across parts of the East Coast, with demonstrators demanding justice and accountability from the Guyana Police Force. The incident also prompted the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to launch an independent probe, which subsequently led to De Nobrega’s indictment for murder.