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…expressed full confidence in Crime Chief and team
President Irfaan Ali, on Friday, said he is extremely pleased with the progress made by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in solving the murders of West Coast Berbice (WCB) teens, Joel and Isaiah Henry.
“I am very happy that we have made such great progress on this matter,” President Ali told reporters on the sideline of an event held at the Office of the President even as the three suspects Anil Sanchara, Vinod Gopaul and Akash Singh were charged with the murders of the two teenagers.
Friday’s charges followed the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) advice that the Police charge the trio. One of the three men reportedly confessed to committing the heinous crime between September 5 and 6, 2020.
The Henry boys, Isaiah, 16, and Joel, 18 were found mutilated in the Cotton Tree Backdam, West Coast Berbice (WCB) 24 hours after they left their homes to pick coconuts. The gruesome murders of the teen cousins in September had sent shockwaves across Guyana, and resulted in fiery protests along the WCB and East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridors.
President Ali said he remains confident in the Police Force to see the case through. “I have full confidence in the Police Force, in the ability of the Crime Chief and his team,” the President said while adding that, “this was very important for us nationally, and it is a big step forward and I am very, very happy.”
Shortly after the murders took place, President Ali had vowed that his Administration would leave no stone unturned in its quest to have the case solved.
But while sections of society have welcomed the news of the suspects’ arrest, others have poured cold water on the investigation done by the Police, and the “confession” statement by one the suspects. The other suspects maintained their innocence as they passed reporters outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The teens’ family on Thursday told Village Voice News that they will only accept a conclusion of the investigation based on evidence and not confessions.
Gail Johnson, mother of Joel Henry said the case ought not to be closed unless the confessions of the men can be corroborated with evidence. Pointing out that her son and nephew had a cutlass, crow bar, and bicycle with them when they went to the backdam. Johnson said the suspects must now produce the items.
The Henry family said that they were not invited to the Court proceedings. They were also not contacted by the Police to determine whether they may know any of the suspects or to determine whether there is reason to believe the suspects had a known motive to kill the boys.
Furthermore, the family is displeased that the Police seldom contacts them and they continue to learn bits and pieces about the progression of the case from the media.
