Police Detective recalls seeing “gaping wound” in victim’s throat

Detective Corporal Roland Beharry on Tuesday recounted the murder scene of taxi driver Rolston Bernard Henry, who was found bound and gagged with several wounds in the car he operated, which was found at Onion Field, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD), back in May 2009.

His recollection was heard by the 12-member jury and Justice Roxanne George in the High Court on Tuesday. The deceased driver’s National Identification Card and four car seat covers, which had been stolen, were tendered as exhibits.

This followed Justice George’s decision that the trial can proceed after ruling that the evidence tendered in the voir dire (trial with a trial) warranted jury deliberation. Detective Corporal Beharry’s testimony follows several days of Police witnesses testifying in the voir dire.

The Detective Corporal told the court that he was the first officer to arrive on the scene after receiving the report that the murdered taxi driver was found in some bushes, near the LBI Sugar Estate. Beharry recalled that the upper half of Henry’s body was on land face up while the other half was lodged in water. The witness also observed “a gaping wound to his throat, a 7 inch cut below his right ear and another to the left side of his back”.

The Policeman further testified how the taxi driver was bound. The jury heard that an electrical cord was used to tie the deceased man’s hands behind him, while a cloth was tied across his mouth.

“A piece of shine metal object was stuck to his right side; his abdomen, stomach and penis appeared to be burnt,” the witness stated, signalling that the taxi driver may have been tortured. Beharry then added that the dead man was also found clothed only in blue undergarments. It is believed that Henry was murdered between May 2 and 3, 2009.

Beharry, who was the principal investigator of the crime, also witnessed the post-mortem examination of the deceased.

In other jarring revelations, Beharry noted that a number of stolen items, including the car seats, were recovered and later identified by the owner of the PKK 9036 motor car, which the deceased had operated. The witness also claimed that he was made privy to a receipt showing purchase of the said car seats.

Under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Maxwell McKay, Beharry stated that four other persons were held, but later released for the taxi driver’s murder. He admitted that he was not aware just when the accused was shown his caution statement, but learnt that this was done on the evening of May 5, 2009 at the Beterverwagting Police Station, ECD.

Beharry also noted that he assisted in searching the crime scene and personally scoured around 15 feet from the murder. However, Attorney McKay challenged the witness as to why a crowd of persons was gathered so close to the crime scene – some four feet away.

“Would you say [the murder scene] was contaminated by persons being so close to the body?” questioned McKay.

Detective Corporal Beharry responded in the negative. The trial continues today.