Cotton Tree killing | Best forensic help must be sourced – Nigel Hughes

Amid the anger over the gruesome killing of two boys in the Cotton Tree backdam, West Coast Berbice prominent attorney Nigel Hughes said that Guyana should source the best possible forensic help to solve the crime.

He said this was not the time for the usual confession and eyewitness report, but rather a thorough analysis of the crime scene to determine those persons involved.

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Joel Henry 19 and his cousin Isaiah Henry were found with their bodies mutilated at the back of the village. The boys are from No.3 Village also on the West Coast Berbice.

In a Facebook statement Hughes said the double murder will need the best forensic help available, even as he observed that not much of this capacity is located internally.

“The forensics are likely to disclose the minium number of participants, sequencing of injuries, number of weapons, etc.
The local police can only do the best with the equipment they have,” Hughes said.

He said the last thing needed here is a weak confession which will get tossed at trial.
“And even if not tossed a conviction based solely on a confession followed by a request for hanging.”

Hughes said it is not yet 48 hours since the discovery and the PM is still to come.
“Hope we rise beyond the usual confession and alleged eyewitnesses.
We must do better.
All the skills are available on the open international market,” the legal counsel said.

Home Affairs Minister , Robeson Benn in a statement Sunday evening said there is no justification for these acts.
“I share the shock, hurt and anger at this gruesome event, and particularly, the grief of: the families and friends of these youths of all of the Berbice Communities. The countrywide distress, abhorrence and condemnation are noteworthy and very keenly felt.”

He assured that the Guyana Police Service is vigorously pursuing its investigations into this crime and is required to spare no lawful effort to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. These investigations, he said must be complete and thorough.