No Charges Removed Against Sergeant Reyes who Shot and Killed Cpl. Gavin Sanchez

In the controversial case against Sergeant Paulino Reyes, it is now known that no one will be charged for the shooting death of Police Corporal Gavin Sanchez, who went down in a hail of gunfire earlier this year.

Shooting death of Corporal Gavin Sanchez still unresolved

Corporal Gavin Sanchez was shot several times and died at the San Pedro Police Barracks on March eighteenth, 2010. More than a year later, it is still not known whether the officer that pulled the trigger, Sergeant Paulino Reyes, will be held responsible for Sanchez’ death. The controversy surrounding the killing was compounded last October when the D.P.P. announced that Reyes would not be charged, but the police sergeant is now the subject of a coroner’s inquest before Magistrate Roberto Ordonez. Since March twenty-fourth, as many as twenty-six persons have testified and Pathologist, Doctor Mario Estradabran as well as Investigating Officer, Superintendent Luis Castellanos are yet to take the stand before the inquest is summed up on May eighteenth. A jury of two women and two men will deliberate on a verdict at the end of the hearings. Police officers and BDF soldiers who have testified thus far, indicated that they witnessed Corporal Sanchez’ boisterous behavior which began at a night club before he was shot. Sanchez was detained by Sergeant Reyes, who was one of several officers that he allegedly threatened to kill that night. The chaos ended at the station where Sanchez was shot nine times during an altercation with Reyes. Of note is that Reyes is being provided with police escort to and from court since he filed a report, claiming that he has been threatened by other officers who are upset over Sanchez’ death.

Channel 5

Coroner's Inquest: Cpl Sanchez Killed In Self Defense

Corporal Gavin Sanchez was killed by Sergeant Paulino Reyes in the San Pedro Police Barracks in March of 2010. It stirred controversy in October when the DPP ruled that Reyes acted in self-defense - and now, a jury at a coroner's inquest found the same thing.

The inquest was held in the courtroom of Magistrate Roberto Ordonez. 18 witnesses testified including Dr. Mario Estradabran and Sanchez's wife.

Estradabran said that Sanchez was shot eight times and that the injury which caused his death was a gunshot to the head.

The jury of three women and two men needed only half an hour to conclude that Reyes was acting in self-defence when he shot Sanchez.

Channel 7