Henry Boys trial: Prosecution to call final 2 witnesses today

The trial into the murders of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry is expected to resume today at the Berbice High Court, with the prosecution set to call its final two witnesses before closing its case.

Anil Sancharra, called “Dan Pole” or “Rasta”, and Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga”, are jointly charged with the September 2020 murders of the teenagers whose mutilated bodies were discovered in the Cotton Tree backlands, West Coast Berbice.
The matter is being heard before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall and a 12-member jury at the Berbice High Court.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards had indicated at the start of the trial that the prosecution intended to call 45 witnesses. However, Guyana Times reported in its latest coverage that 26 witnesses have already testified, with only two more expected to take the stand before the State closes its case.
Over the past several weeks, the court has heard evidence from relatives of the deceased teenagers, community witnesses, Police investigators, crime-scene ranks, and medical experts.
Among the first witnesses to testify were relatives who identified the bodies of the two teenagers after they were discovered in the backdam one day after they went missing.
Police witnesses also presented graphic crime-scene photographs and detailed the condition and location of the bodies when they were found.
One of the trial’s key witnesses, Akash Singh, gave lengthy evidence in which he claimed the killings stemmed from accusations that ganja plants had been destroyed in the backlands.
According to Singh, the teenagers were attacked, and their bodies later moved. His testimony was heavily challenged under cross-examination by defence attorneys Dr Dexter Todd and Chandra Sohan.
Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh also testified that the teenagers died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple chop wounds inflicted with a sharp weapon.
Additional evidence was later given by Police ranks, including Sergeant Demond John and Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo, as the prosecution continued to outline its case against the accused men.
Throughout the proceedings, the defence has challenged the credibility of witnesses, the handling of evidence, and aspects of the Police investigation.
The trial is expected to resume today with the prosecution’s remaining witnesses before the State moves to close its case.