– says attorney Nigel Hughes
– warns against sloth, use of outmoded investigative methods
Guyana’s highest authorities in Government and law enforcement run the risk of causing the Henry Boys’ killings to become a ‘cold case’ if outdated methods of investigation are relied on and slothful efforts continue towards seeking international assistance.
This is the assessment of prominent Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, one of the lawyers for the family of slain teenage cousins from West Coast Berbice, Isaiah and Joel Henry. He told Village Voice Guyana that nothing he has seen thus far from those working to crack the case surrounding the gruesome murders gives him the confidence that the utmost urgency is being taken.
“There’s nothing that I’m aware of now that leads me to believe that we’re any closer to solving this than we were two weeks ago or four weeks ago, absolutely nothing, and that’s not a good place to be,” Hughes said.
On September 6, the bodies of 19-year-old Joel was found with wounds across the body, seven to eight chops to the head, and defensive wounds in both palms from a sharp object. It was concluded, from those injuries, that he fell to the ground then received a chop to his back 14 inches x 3 and 6 inches deep that severed his spine. There was also evidence that he bit his tongue and his throat was slit.
The body of 16-year-old Isaiah was also found with a severed spine. His wound was 14 inches long, 4 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Isaiah received several chops to his head, and his throat too was slit, almost to sever his head from his neck. Attorney Hughes said that there is nothing about these events that have led lawyers on the case to believe that it was an average execution. “This was a bad case that came to Guyana at a bad time. If we don’t solve this, we’re in real trouble,” he said.
However, as a lawyer he was not contacted as investigator but as a representative of the family. It is up to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other local or international investigators to crack the case along with that of teenager, Haresh Singh, murdered subsequently. From his observation, Hughes does not believe that Guyana’s local law enforcement has been acting as efficient as possible in solving the case.
Village Voice Guyana reported last week that talks are underway to secure the services of one of the world’s foremost agencies in forensic anthropology to support the investigation of the Guyana police Force into the murders of the trio youths in the West Coast Berbice backlands. The Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (Equipo Argentino de Antropologia Forensica-EAAF) which has worked on high profile cases in many parts of the world has offered to send a team to Guyana including a forensic pathologist, a forensic anthropologist and a forensic radiologist, a joint statement by the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Human Rights Association and the Hughes Fields and Stoby chambers said.
The team will bring the equipment they need.
Discussions with the Director of the EAAF to bring this initiative to fruition are being undertaken by representatives of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana human Rights Association and the law firm representing pro bono the interests of the families Hughes Fields and Stoby. The anticipated outcome will be an unprecedented collaboration of local, regional and international forensic expertise, the EAAF team will build on the forensic work of the regional security system which is currently examining samples from the crime scene, victims and suspects.
According to the statement a recent zoom conference agreed that the initiative will comprise a team of four people – including a forensic anthropologist, a forensic pathologist, and a forensic radiologist with the necessary technical equipment. The team will remain in Guyana for a week. A Report of the Team’s findings will be made available within a month.
The statement said the visit will happen as soon as the logistics of getting the team to Guyana are completed. The major challenge may well be Covid-19 rather than administration issues. Engagement of a prestigious team such as EAAF increases the possibility of providing the families of the victims with some form of closure as well as securing a successful prosecution of the perpetrators.
“A version of the truth surrounding the deaths which is supported by the best science available locally, regionally and internationally, will also increase acceptance of by all right-thinking Guyanese. Such a Report would provide a foundation on which to build more harmonious communities both on West Coast Berbice and throughout the country,” the statement added.
A Briefing Note provided by the EAAF indicates that since its foundation in 1984, the organisation has worked in 55 countries. It is involved with the case over the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico currently attracting much international attention.
President Irfaan Ali Dr. Mohamed announced last week too that evidence gathered from the investigations into the murders of West Coast Berbice teenagers Isaiah and Joel Henry and Haresh Singh, has been sent to St. Lucia for analysis.
“We have a team that has left for St. Lucia with some of the evidence to do more detailed analysis, so that is going on at the same time. For confidentiality reasons, the regional body has asked to have certain things respected from their perspective and we are sticking to that. There are components of the MOU that can’t be made public,” President Ali said.
While noting that there is a cost attached to the support Guyana is receiving from the regional body, he added that “is a small issue in relation to what we hope to achieve and that is bringing these people to justice.”
A five-member team of investigators from the Regional Security System arrived in Guyana two days ago to assist the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with their investigations into the brutal murders of the three teenagers. The collaboration follows a request from President Ali for regional assistance in bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. Three weeks ago, the lifeless bodies of the Henry cousins were discovered badly mutilated and chopped a day after they were reported missing. This resulted in protests across West Berbice. Singh’s body was discovered three days later in the Number Two Village backdam where he had gone on an errand.
