Henry cousins murder trial – Investigator faces questions over multiple theories, key witness role in probe

Cross-examination of a senior Police Investigator dominated proceedings on Thursday as the trial for the murder of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry continued at the Berbice High Court. The court heard that Police investigated several theories during the probe and followed information provided by key prosecution witness Akash Singh.
As the murder trial of cousins continued, a senior Police Investigator came under intense cross-examination over several aspects of the investigation, including multiple theories explored by Police and questions surrounding the alleged primary crime scene.
Superintendent Rodwell Sarrabo continued his testimony under cross-examination by defence attorney Dexter Todd.
The trial is being heard before Justice Simone Morris at the Berbice High Court.
On trial are Anil Sancharra, also known as “Dan Pole” and “Rasta”, and Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga”.

The State’s case is being led by prosecutor Marisa Edwards, while Gopaul is represented by attorney Chandra Sohan.
During cross-examination, the senior Investigator told the court that Police pursued several theories during the investigation into the murders of the two teenagers.
He said many of those theories came from relatives of the Henry cousins and residents of West Coast Berbice.
According to the witness, statements were taken from several persons as investigators sought to determine what led to the brutal killings.
Sarrabo told the court that he personally arrested some persons during the course of the investigation and said those arrests were made from September 2020 onwards.
The Investigator further explained that all statements obtained by Police were placed into the investigation file and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, under cross-examination, he said he could not say who may have removed statements considered irrelevant to the case now before the court.
The witness also told the court that external forensic agencies were involved in aspects of the investigation.
The trial stems from the September 2020 murders of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry, whose mutilated bodies were discovered in the Number Three Village backdam, West Coast Berbice, one day after they went missing. The killings sparked widespread protests and unrest across the country.
Questions were also raised about the crime scene linked to the murders.
Sarrabo said there was no record establishing what investigators considered to be the primary and secondary crime scenes, explaining that crime scene Investigators handled that aspect of the probe.
The court heard that investigators initially viewed the area where the bodies were discovered as the primary crime scene.
However, the superintendent said he personally believed it was not the primary scene.
He told the court that key prosecution witness Akash Singh later directed Investigators to another location.
According to Sarrabo, investigators travelled from the Berbice Bridge area before Singh instructed them where to stop.
The witness said Singh was not prompted and only instructed Police where to stop.
Sarrabo further testified that investigators searched the area for cutlasses allegedly disposed of there, but none were recovered.
The superintendent also told the court that the two accused were arrested based on information allegedly provided by Akash Singh.
He further stated that no promises were made to Singh and said he was unaware of any statement by Singh alleging he had been beaten by Police.
Akash Singh earlier this week told the court in his testimony that the cousins were killed over the destruction of a ganja farm.
Meanwhile, the prosecution also recalled Sheldon Harvey, who previously presented video evidence to the court.
However, the video, which was of poor quality, had earlier been discontinued after approximately 15 minutes because of the poor quality of the audio.
Harvey, on Thursday, told the court he was a photographer attached to the crime-scene investigation.
He also testified that Superintendent Nedd from CID Headquarters was in charge of the investigation.
The prosecution also called Leon King, the brother-in-law of Joel Henry.
King told the court that he joined searches in the back dam on September 6, 2020, and later identified the bodies days later.
Meanwhile, prosecutors said the state still intends to call two additional witnesses, including one who is currently overseas. So far, the prosecution has called 15 witnesses in the trial before Justice Simone Morris at the Berbice High Court.
The trial continues on Monday.