Clash in court as Henry Boys murder trial heats up
May 14 2026
Tensions flared inside the Berbice High Court on Wednesday as defense attorney Dexter Todd and key prosecution witness Akash Singh engaged in a heated exchange during the ongoing trial into the 2020 murders of cousins Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry.
The courtroom saw intense back-and-forth arguments as Todd aggressively challenged Singh’s credibility, repeatedly accusing him of being dishonest in his testimony. Singh, however, firmly resisted the allegations, standing his ground throughout the cross-examination as the two accused men observed quietly from the dock.
The trial involves Anil Sanchara, called “Magga,” of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, and Vinood Gopaul, known as “Dan Pole” and “Rasta,” of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the killings.
Todd resumed his cross-examination of Singh after proceedings were halted on Tuesday by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Singh repeatedly claimed he could not remember several details when questioned by the defense. However, on Wednesday, the witness appeared far more responsive, answering Todd’s questions directly and in greater detail.
The defense attorney suggested that Singh’s recollection of events was fabricated and argued that he never accompanied the accused men to the Cotton Tree Backdam to plant marijuana.
Singh rejected that claim, insisting he was present and further alleging that after the cousins were killed, he was instructed to dismantle the camp used by the group.
Todd also alleged that Singh had been beaten by police following his arrest in January 2021, but the witness strongly denied being assaulted.
“No police never hurt me,” Singh told the court, dismissing claims that he had been heard screaming while in custody.
“I was screaming? I never scream. Wuh I screaming fuh? Nobody ain’t do me nothing fuh I scream,” he added.
The attorney further suggested that Singh’s account about planting marijuana was fabricated in exchange for favourable treatment from investigators.
But Singh maintained that his testimony was truthful.
“Everything wuh I telling everybody is true. I know I was in Cotton Tree Backdam to plant marijuana with Gopaul and Anil Sanchara,” he told the court.
Todd also questioned whether Singh had been promised freedom or protection in return for testifying against the accused. Singh, who remains in police custody in relation to the matter, denied receiving any deal or special arrangement, saying he was simply before the court to tell the truth.
Under further questioning, Singh admitted that he had previously stated police beat him while at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Georgetown. However, he claimed he only made that statement because he was pressured by the accused men to do so.
According to Singh, both Gopaul and Sanchara wanted him to accuse the police of assault, and he complied because he feared for his life.
He also testified that he was initially an unwilling accomplice who had been threatened with death, which prevented him from revealing details to police, prison officers, or during his earlier court appearances in 2021.
As cross-examination neared its conclusion, Todd questioned Singh about where he had travelled from before arriving at court on Wednesday.
“I come out of jail,” Singh responded, declining to specify the facility.
The defense argued that Singh did not appear to be attending court as a regular inmate and suggested he was being kept under undisclosed police arrangements.
When re-examined by prosecutors, Singh explained that he could not publicly disclose his location because he continued to fear threats from Gopaul.
Singh remains the prosecution’s central witness in the closely watched trial.
Prosecutors have indicated that approximately 44 witnesses are expected to testify in the matter.
The trial continues today…
(Source. K.NEWS)
