Family of murdered woman refuse to have her exhumed for PM
September 4 2026
The family of suspected murder victim Marinda Ernest has refused to allow her body to be exhumed for a postmortem, despite police efforts to have an autopsy conducted.
Ernest, 25, a farmer of Phillipai Village, Upper Mazaruni River, was found dead on Saturday, August 29, with suspected puncture wounds and abrasions to her body.
Police had detained Ernst’s reputed husband following her death and had reportedly arranged for the woman’s remains to be buried while awaiting an autopsy.
However, when a pathologist arrived in the area this week on a chartered aircraft, relatives refused to permit the exhumation. BIG Smith News Watch understands that villagers also declined to assist with removing the body from the grave.
With no exhumation taking place, police reportedly had no alternative but to release Ernest’s reputed husband.
A sister of the dead woman told BIG Smith News Watch that the family’s decision was influenced by the condition of the body, which had already begun decomposing. She said the remains were buried close to her home and that exhuming the body would cause further distress to the family, particularly the children.
“The body already stink, so we say no.”
The sister said that despite the family’s decision, she still wants to know how her sibling died. She added that she was unaware of any problems between Ernest and her reputed husband.
According to police, on Friday, August 29, Ernest and her reputed husband joined approximately 40 other villagers for a farm exercise located about an hour’s walk from their residence.
The exercise ended around 16:00 hrs, after which the couple reportedly began making their way home. The reputed husband told police that during the journey, he briefly went into some bushes but was unable to locate Ernest when he returned to the trail.
The matter was subsequently reported to police, and Ernest’s body was found the following day beneath a shed and covered with a sheet.
Police said the body bore a suspected puncture wound to the left breast and another to the back, along with abrasions to the back and left leg.
Investigations are continuing.
