Trinidadian found dead in hammock died from hanging – PM

…mother suspects foul play, says request to have son’s body returned to T&T for burial turned down

An autopsy performed on the remains of Trinidadian national Alan Padmore, whose body was found in a hammock at his Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice (WCB) home, has disclosed that he died from asphyxia (a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen) and hanging.

The post mortem examination was performed on Wednesday by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan at the Anthony Funeral Parlour at Fort Wellington Village, WCB.
The body has been handed over to Padmore’s family in order for them to make funeral arrangements.
The lifeless body of the 28-year-old labourer who had been referred to as “Jockey Boy” was found on Monday lying in a hammock. Police have said that, at the time of the discovery, a piece of cloth was found wrapped around his neck.
Reports are that on Sunday, at around 08:00h, this father of four had left home for work as per normal. The man’s wife has told investigators that, at around 09:00h, she spoke with her husband via WhatsApp video chat. At around 20:30h the same day, after the man did not return home, the woman said, she retired to bed, but when she woke up the next morning, she found his body in the hammock.
The Police were immediately contacted, and they visited the scene, where the “man’s body was examined, and an impression was seen under his neck, suspected to be caused by the piece of hammock cloth.”
Meanwhile, in a letter that was posted on social media, the mother of the young man stated that family members in Trinidad received a text message that her son had passed away.
“He met a Guyanese woman, and together they have a 4-year-old son. However, the relationship was not going very well, and Alan told me that he was coming home to Trinidad on the 28 of this month (June),” the woman has said.
She noted that after receiving the call, the family managed to make contact with Commander Simon, who related that he would contact them after June 15, by which time the post-mortem would be completed.
“After not hearing from the officer, I called back, and the information he gave me was that the pathologist told him it was death by hanging. the body will be released to the wife, and he did not ask the time of death. Up to this time, I have not seen the official autopsy result of my son,” the woman has said.
She is contending there are a few things about the situation that are confusing, while noting that her son was found lying in an almost crouched position in that hammock, not hanging from any rope or line.
“There were no visible marks around his neck. Why would my son kill himself when he had already planned to come home? Alan is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, and I am begging our authorities to please investigate the truth of what happened to him,” the woman has added.
She, however, later learnt that her son’s funeral is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 19.
“We have been trying to liaise with the mother of Alan’s child, so that we may be allowed to bring Alan home for burial, but we are being blocked at every step. My daughter has already visited Immigration to obtain an emergency passport to travel to Guyana for the funeral, but the lady said that she cannot wait for us to get there. Why the rush?! What are they trying to cover up?! We have offered to pay for the extra costs to the funeral home, but the offer was refused,” Padmore’s mother has said.
She noted that the family’s request for the ashes of her son to be taken to Trinidad has also been refused.
“I am the mother of this young man. His father passed away, and I am the one who raised him. We keep getting excuse after excuse, lie after lie, and our hands are tied at this time. Please! Please help us! We have a large and very close family who are heartbroken over Alan’s passing,” the aggrieved mother has said.
She is, further, calling for the intervention of the Guyanese authorities to have her son returned home for burial.
“I want to see my son one last time. I want to lay him to rest in his country…in his hometown. He is a Trinidadian, not a Guyanese. If they bury him there, his spot will fade away and he will soon be forgotten. Help me keep him close to the loved ones who will keep his memory alive,” the mother stated.