GPF, Min. Home Affairs claim forensic expert failed to formally request video of Henry boys’ autopsies

… Expert says he was never given the offer

Both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have sought to clarify why Director of the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF), Dr. Luis Fondebrider was unable to view the autopsies of the murdered teens Joel and Isaiah Henry while in Guyana.

In a letter to the editor dated January 12, 2021, Dr. Fondebrider sought to refute reports carried in the Stabroek and Kaieteur News on January 6, 2021 that suggest that an offer had been made to him to view the video of the autopsy and that “the authorities are awaiting a response on this from Dr. Fondebrider”.

The forensic expert said that at no time did he receive such an offer. He added that he is lost as to when such an offer to view the video was made, given the reception he received when he arrived in the country.

“During my visit to Guyana a formal meeting with the Minister constituted my only contact with officials since my efforts to meet the pathologist who performed the autopsy and the Crime Chief were not successful. Since returning to Buenos Aires, I wrote to the Minister of Home Affairs on December 21, Mr. Benn, communicating to him my appreciation of the opportunity to meet with him and for the offer of an exchange of information. A list of the reports that I would need to make a professional assessment of the murders was also made available by me. I have not received any replies to these communications from any official,” Dr. Fondebrider stated.
However, in statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that at the formal meeting Dr. Fondebrider referred to, which took place on December 15, 2020, Dr. Fondebrider was advised that he would be provided with the video of the autopsies and their respective forensic report.

The Ministry stated that the offer was also made for him to meet with Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who at the time was on his way to duty in Lethem.

“However, the meeting with Dr. Nehaul Singh and Dr. Luis Fondebrider did not materialize because it was understood, that Dr. Fondebrider was departing Guyana the very next day, December 16, 2020. Dr. Fondebrider was also advised that should the need arise for assistance from his agency beyond the normal resorts which are employed, contact will be made with him,” the Ministry stated.
In a separate press statement, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) similarly stated that the account of Dr. Fondebrider is false. “It was in this meeting, in the presence of all attendees, that the offer was made for the Guyana Police Force to share with him a copy of the video of the post mortem examinations conducted on the Henry boys and to-date the Administration of the Guyana Police Force is not in receipt of a formal response from Dr. Luis Fondebrider as it relates to that offer,” the statement indicated.

Furthermore, the GPF said that Dr. Luis Fondebrider made a false statement in saying that his efforts to meet the Crime Chief were unsuccessful when photographs show that the Crime Chief was present at the meeting on December 15.
When Dr. Fondebrider and President of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Mike McCormack – who facilitated his entry — spoke with the media on the day of the meeting, they had made it clear their issue was less about meeting the Crime Chief formally but to get down to business.

McCormack had explained: “Dr. Fondebrider has not had an opportunity to meet the police or the police investigators. The meeting this morning was the Ministry of Home Affairs’ meeting and he had a team of advisors there. To that extent, you could say yes, the Police Commissioner and the Crime Chief shook hands with Dr. Fondebrider but there’s not been any technical or professional exchange with the police.”

Dr. Fondebrider, a world-renowned forensic anthropology expert, travelled to Guyana in December to assist in the solving of the West Coast Berbice (WCB) teen murders. Upon leaving, he told the media that he had presented the Crime Chief with a list outlining some 20 documents he would need to complete his work but the meeting at which he hoped to receive this turned out to be merely a formality.