President Ali halts State’s appeal of $22.5M judgment for Quindon Bacchus killing
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has intervened to halt the State’s appeal against a $22.5 million judgment awarded to the family of Quindon Bacchus, a 25-year-old father of one, who was fatally shot by a Police Constable in Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in June 2022.
Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, made this revelation during his weekly press conference on Thursday at Freedom House. “The AG and the others were planning to appeal the judgement and the President made it clear, there should be no appeal and that the award must be paid to Quindon Bacchus and the family,” the Vice President stated.
The judgment, issued by Justice Nigel Niles last month, followed the State’s admission of liability for Bacchus’s unlawful killing. Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, during the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs’ year-end press conference, had confirmed the filing of the appeal.
He explained that while the State accepted liability for Bacchus’s death, it sought to challenge the quantum of damages awarded, which was deemed disproportionately high.The quantum of damages awarded was $22.5 million.
The Judge also awarded $1 million for funeral expenses and $500,000 for cost, totalling the entire sum to $24 million. Bacchus was fatally shot on June 10, 2022, during what police described as an intelligence-led operation involving the alleged sale of an illegal firearm.
According to police reports, Bacchus fled during an exchange and fired at officers, prompting Lance Corporal Kristoff De Nobrega to return fire. Bacchus succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
De Nobrega now faces a murder charge, while two other officers, Lance Corporal Thurston Simon and Cadet Officer Dameion McLennon, are charged with attempting to obstruct justice.
