Magistrate Peter Hugh, earlier this morning, upheld an application by Attorney at Law Dexter Todd to have a preliminary inquiry (PI) into the death of cousins 16-year-old Isiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry.
19-year-old Akash Singh, called “Monkey,” of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, 33-year-old Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, WCB; and 34-year-old Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, were charged with the murders of the Henry boys back in January.
Attorney Todd is representing Singh and Gopaul.
The matter was called at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court where Police Prosecutor Phillip Sherriff informed the Court that the State have 20 witnesses. As such Magistrate Hugh said he will commence the PI on May 3.
He further indicated that the Court will hear the matter two days per week. Hence, he has set aside May 3, 4, 10 and 11.
Todd also informed the Court that he is encountering difficulty with communicating with his clients since Gopaul is currently at the Mazaruni Prison.
Singh, who had confessed, was separately charged with the murder of Isaiah while the other two accused were charged jointly for both murders.
On September 6, 2020 the badly mutilated bodies of Isaiah and Joel were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice – almost two days after they had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts.
The murders of the Henry cousins had sparked protests across several villages along the West Coast Berbice corridor, where commuters were beaten and robbed. With roads blocked, some vehicles were also torched.
Then days later, on September 9, 17-year-old Haresh Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands. It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he is related to one of the persons initially held by the Police for the cousins’ murders.
However, the Police are yet to make any breakthrough in that case.
