Akiel, how did you really die?

THE INQUEST into the death of 11-year-old Akiel Chambers is coming to an end but the question still remains — how did Akiel really die? Evidence so far revealed that Akiel could have died by drowning, or he could have been smothered to death. By whom? That is the million dollar question which no one can positively answer judging from the evidence adduced at the inquest. One thing is certain. Akiel had been sexually assaulted over a period of time. On the day he disappeared — May 23, 1998, — Akiel was sexually assaulted because the pathologist found a sample of sperm in his anus. Who did it? That is a question which has been troubling Coroner Sherman McNicolls since the inquest started on September 22 in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. Now six weeks later, the mysterious death of the schoolboy has left many confused.

Without a doubt, the inquest has been the most followed court case in the country. Those who follow it want one question answered — who was assaulting Akiel and how did he meet his gruesome death? The coroner has heard from several witnesses, some of whom gave conflicting evidence, while some gave “strange” testimony. But McNicolls seems interested in hearing from Trevor Craigwell and his son Christopher, both of whom attended the birthday party for Carrie James at 23 Balata Terrace, Haleland Park, Maraval, on May 23, 1998. Over the past two weeks, the coroner has been asking for the Craigwells. But the inquest may come to an end without the testimony of the Craigwells. According to court prosecutor Sgt Kenneth Cordner, the Craigwells are living in the United States and there is no information that they will return to Trinidad in the near future. The court has been unable to reach the Craigwells. The coroner believes that Trevor Craigwell’s testimony could bear fruit. So far, Craigwell’s name was called several times from the witness box.

It was revealed that Craigwell attended the birthday party with his son Christopher. He was one of the parents who were supervising the children who were bathing in the back yard of the James’ residence. He was also given the task by hostess Annelore James to take pictures during the cake-sticking ceremony. Craigwell was also present when Akiel was discovered missing. He also assisted in the search for the missing boy. Evidence also revealed that he was at the James’ residence on the following morning before Akiel’s body was found. However, no one said he was present when Akiel’s body was found. However, he accompanied Mrs James to the Maraval Police Station later that morning after the body was found and sent to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary. He also gave a statement in the matter Sgt Cordner was unable to say last week when Craigwell left the jurisdiction, but Sunday Newsday learned that Craigwell was in Trinidad earlier this year. Without the testimony of Craigwell and his son, the coroner has just one more witness — the investigator, Constable Clive Alvarez. The investigator will be called to the witness stand on Wednesday as the inquest comes to an end.

So far, there has been conflicting evidence about the condition of the pool on the evening of the party and on the following morning when Akiel’s body was found. Most of the witnesses informed the court that the swimming pool was clear on both occasions. They could have seen the bottom and if there was a body there, they would have seen it. This evidence came from parents, children, a neighbour and the police. Few witnesses gave an opposite view. Among them was Mrs James who said the pool was cloudy because she had thrown chlorine in it. A next door neighbour Edwin Pouchet said the pool was clear the day of the party and on the morning when the boy was found. So far, one witness Darnell Riley said he saw Akiel in the swimming pool on May 23, 1998. Describing Akiel as his best friend, Riley said Akiel was standing in the shallow end of the pool, but he did not ask him anything. Another witness Kirlan Sylvester, in a statement to the police dated June 18, 1998, said he saw Akiel sitting on the edge of the pool and then swimming and paddling in the water. But in court last week, Sylvester said that was not true. He said as a child, he made up “stories” and this was one of his stories.

He pointed to several “stories” in his statement to the police. When asked by the court why he gave stories, Sylvester was unable to say why. He said no one pressured him into giving evidence and no one coached him before he gave evidence in court. But the greatest mystery was what happened to Akiel between Saturday and Sunday. Akiel, a student of Blackman’s Private School, Maraval, arrived at the party at 3 pm with his aunt Valerie Pascall. He was living with his aunt on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain. His mother lives in England and his father lived at La Horquetta at the time. Pascall left Akiel there, telling him he was not to swim in the pool. Akiel was seen in different areas, walking around the pool and playing in the toy room. But he was discovered missing when the time came to stick the cake. No one really looked for him at that time. He was really discovered missing around 6 pm when Pascall returned for him. Guests at the party looked everywhere — the pool, inside and outside the house, and by one of the next door neighbours. Patrick Young, a parent, said when he was leaving the party with his two children, Akiel asked his son for his swim trunks so he could bathe. Young said he lent Akiel the garment and he left the compound.

There were stories circulating about where Akiel had gone. One was that he had left with Patrick Young, another was that he walked down the road, and another was that he went next door. No one knew for sure. The police went to the James’ residence and searched the pool around 11 pm, but there was nothing there. The next morning, Carrie James said that she and two friends bathed in the pool which was clear. There was no one in the pool. They got out of the pool around 9 am to have breakfast. The police returned to the house when one of the officers pointed and said ‘look, look, it right there.’ Akiel’s body floated up in the pool. Was that body there since Saturday evening? Or did someone put the body in the pool on Sunday morning? Witnesses were convinced that Akiel was not in the pool on Saturday night or Sunday morning. As Carrie James summed it up rightly...Akiel’s body floated up in the pool...just so. Will someone be held accountable for his death? The matter rests in McNicolls’ hands.