Medical Council rejects request for second autopsy for Tour Guide

April 22 2026

The Medical Council of Guyana has rejected a request for a second post-mortem examination on slain tour guide Leon “Rasta” Baird, a decision that may leave his family without further answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

The application was submitted by Trinidadian forensic pathologist Hubert Daisley, who had sought approval to conduct an independent autopsy.

However, a council official confirmed that the request was not approved, offering no further details on the decision. The same official had previously indicated that the application was under review.

This marks another instance where Dr. Daisley has been denied permission by the council, following a similar rejection last year when he applied for short-term registration to perform a second autopsy in the case of 11-year-old Adriana Young.

Relatives of Baird have expressed concern over the decision, noting that his remains—badly burnt—continue to deteriorate while being stored at the Lethem Hospital mortuary. The family has maintained that a second autopsy could have provided critical insight into whether Baird sustained other life-threatening injuries before the fire.

Government pathologist Nehaul Singh had previously concluded that Baird died as a result of burns.

Baird, who worked at the Wichabai Ranch in South Rupununi, was last seen alive on January 23. His charred body was discovered three days later inside a burnt-out company vehicle.

Meanwhile, 49-year-old Ken Faria, a Community Development Officer from Central Rupununi, has since been charged with Baird’s murder.