The trial for the murders of cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry continued on Friday with emotional testimony from Isaiah’s father, Glaston Henry.
The two accused are Anil Sancharra, known as “Dan Pole” and “Rasta,” of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, and Vinod Gopaul, nicknamed “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne.
Glaston told the court that on September 5, 2020, his wife, Patricia Henry—who has since passed away—informed him that the boys were missing. He and several others searched the No. 2 and No. 3 backdams but did not find the boys and returned home.
The following morning, Glaston went back to No. 2 backdam and then into the Cotton Tree Backdam with colleagues from the sugar estate where he worked. Eventually, he found his son, Isaiah, lying motionless on the ground, with multiple wounds on his body. He remained at the scene until police officers arrived and confirmed that Isaiah’s body was later removed by tractor.
Postmortem examinations for both boys were conducted on September 9, 2020. Glaston said he identified only his son’s body, while a cousin attended the actual autopsy.
During cross-examination, Glaston noted that Isaiah regularly visited the backdam to collect coconuts and mangoes, while Joel did so less frequently. He also stated that he did not know whose land his son’s body was found on.
Rural Constable Devindra Pardat of the Mibicuri Police Station testified that on September 6, 2020, he received a tip-off and, along with other officers, went to Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, where they arrested Akash Singh, Sancharra, and Gopaul—the latter carrying a haversack. Akash is Sancharra’s stepbrother and is also on trial, though separately, for his alleged role in the crime. He is said to be the main witness in the case, reportedly telling detectives of how the boys were brutally murdered during the Preliminary Inquiry.
Both were taken to the Central Police Station.
Detective Shane James of the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters testified that he and other officers visited Akash Singh’s residence in Zeelugt and interviewed the men.
Defense attorney Dr. Dexter Todd, who represents Sancharra, alleged that officers beat and coerced the accused into confessing. He claimed Sancharra maintained his innocence throughout. Detective James firmly denied these allegations, stating he would rely on video interview recordings as evidence.
Police Sergeant David Samnarine, a photographer from the Guyana Police Force Academy, also testified that on September 9, 2020, he photographed the postmortem examinations conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Memorial Garden Funeral Home. He verified approximately 87 photographs presented to the court.
The disfigured bodies of Isaiah, 16, and Joel, 18, were discovered on September 6, 2020, in the Cotton Tree backlands of West Coast Berbice. Isaiah’s head bore a large “X” mark, and Joel’s chest had been cut open. The cousins had gone to the backdam to gather coconuts on September 5 and were never seen alive again. Postmortem results confirmed both died from blood loss and shock caused by multiple stab wounds, including severed spines.
In total, 37 witnesses are expected to testify, including 12 police officers and Dr. Nehaul Singh. The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday.
