Reward in West Berbice teens killing speaks to GPF failure- Nigel Hughes

The police’s move to announce a $3 million reward for any information in relation to the killings of the Henry cousins and Haresh Singh is being seen as an admission of failure says Nigel Hughes, lawyer for Henry families.

Almost two months after the boys’ murders, the police are yet charge anyone with their murders.

On Tuesday morning in a release the police said that it was offering a sum of money for information that can assist with the investigation.

Hughes who held a joint press conference with the boys’ families said he believes the family’s notice for the press briefing is what prompted to police to make this announcement, “the police are unable to solve the crime with their present means, they are hoping with a financial incentive someone will come forward,” Hughes told the media.

The boys went missing on 5th September 2020, their bodies were found on the 6th of September. They were chopped about their bodies and heads and their heads almost severed.

On Tuesday, Hughes told the media that the families still do not know what was sent for forensic tests overseas.

He said the police could not provide a list of items it sent for testing but that the police related that several items it sent did not provide any conclusive results. These included “DNA recovered from a cigarette butt found at one of the locations”.

The tests were unable to “disclose any link to any suspect who were arrested” Hughes explained.
Of particular concern to the family is the pairs of trousers linked to Joel Henry.

Hughes showed the media a photo of the pair of trousers Joel Henry left his home with Hughes said that was not the air of trousers he was found with. Additionally, the pair of pants found on Joel’s body was not sent for DNA tests.

The family is still hoping that with government support the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team would be on site to conduct its own investigations to aid the investigations.

The team’s professional fees are US$20,000 and does not include costs for travel and boarding.

The families were hoping that the government would be able to pick up the cost to bring the team but Colwyn Henry, a relative of the boys said that when he met with President Irfaan Ali, the President expressed confidence in the Caricom’s Regional Security System.

That team which has since left Guyana expressed confidence in their local counterpart, but to date their local counterparts are pursing the assistance of the public.