DPP recommends inquest into Berbice teen’s death after autopsy finds injuries caused by accident

An autopsy performed on 16-year-old Justin Smith of Number 47 Village, Corentyne, found that the injuries on his body were consistent with those of a vehicular accident.

The autopsy, which was conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple injuries, consistent with a vehicular accident.

The incident occurred on July 13 at Number 46 Village, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). It had been reported that it was a road accident involving the teenager’s motorcycle alone.

However, the teen’s mother, Dhanraji Seenauth, called ‘Anita’, had alleged that her son was beaten by three young men from the same village.

Making mention of three wounds to his body, Seenauth had told this publication that there was a hole at the back of her son’s head, which she believes was caused when he was lashed off the motorcycle he was riding.

The woman said there was what appeared to be a defensive chop wound to his hand and another chop wound to his back.

Police, nevertheless, say that initial investigations revealed that the victim’s mother claimed she received information that her son that Justin had fallen off a motorcycle and was in a critical condition on the Number 46 Public Road.

Further investigations were conducted the day after the incident by the police, who revealed that several persons provided and claimed that Smith was consuming alcoholic beverages at a Chinese Supermarket and left alone on a motorcycle.

According to the police, CCTV footage showed that the motorcyclist was speeding and had overtaken a motor vehicle proceeding in the said direction before veering off and crashing on the southern grass parapet where a red row plough is parked.

“The row plough had several scratches, fabric remnants, sponge (from the motorcycle seat), leather, and a black wristband,” police noted in a release.

Following the demise of the teenager, police had arrested three persons but they were subsequently released.

In its statement, the police said they were able to obtain statements from those arrested.

The police subsequently sought legal advice, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has recommended that an inquest be carried out into the death of Justin Smith.

Meanwhile, several relatives of the death teenager have been taken into police custody after the report issued by the pathologist was allegedly tampered with and the words ‘stab wound’ inserted.