Top cop says intensive probe underway into Berbice double-murder

-three in custody assisting with investigation

Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie said no stone will be left unturned, as the Guyana Police Force launched an intensive investigation into the gruesome double-murder of two boys 15 at Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. Joel Henry 19 and Isaiah Henry were found dead in a clump of bush Sunday with their bodies badly disfigured. Thus far, three persons are in custody assisting with the investigations. These are the owner of a coconut estate in which the bodies were found and his son along with a handyman.

At a news onference Monday morning hosted  by the Ministry of Home Affairs, authorities did not state whether those in custody are cooperating with the investigation, but mentioned that six detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department have already travelled to the village, while others are expected to join the investigation party. “I wish to assure you that the Guyana Police Force will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and to ensure you also that no stone will be left unturned,” Commissioner Hoppie said.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn assured angry and grieving residents and citizens as a whole, that the Guyana Police Force has commenced a very active investigation, which will be nothing short of professional. It will also be done with alacrity, using all available technology to ensure the case is brought to finality. Benn described the murder as extremely unfortunate and vicious . “There could be no excuse for the deaths of the young men and the egregious mutilation of their bodies. We share the shock and hurt and harrow of this event,” Benn said. He reiterated that no effort will be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Benn said.

Call for peace
Following fiery protest that has erupted in the WCB villages, Minister Benn is calling for calm and peace and for the return of normalcy so that the investigation will not be stymied. He expressed concern over the escalation of violence, the blocking of the road and the destruction of property. While he understands villagers will be hurt and angry, he continues to appeal for calm. “I want to continue to appeal to the residents and to the communities out there, to those upstanding and reasonable persons in the communities to bring their influence to bare,” he reaffirmed.

The double-murder occurred somewhere around the 5th and 6th September at an unknown location. The teenage cousins left their No.3 Village, West Coast Berbice homes on Saturday morning to pick coconuts in the Cotton Tree Village backdam but never returned home. Relatives became worried and filed a missing persons report at the Blairmont Police Station on Saturday evening and a search party was formed on Sunday morning. This led to the subsequent discovery of the mutilated bodies some 600 feet apart. Police said the bodies bore several marks of violence. A national outcry for justice followed the discovery. The bodies are presently at the Anthony Funeral Home, awaiting a post mortem examination.