Coroner orders DNA test on Akiel’s pants

CORONER Sherman McNicolls yesterday ordered that a DNA test be carried out on the red and white short pants and underwear which 11-year-old Akiel Chambers was wearing when his body was fished out of the swimming pool of Charles and Annelore James at Balata Terrace, Haleland Park, Maraval on May 24, 1998. McNicolls told the investigating officer PC Clive Alvarez, “I direct you to take those exhibits with dispatch to the Forensic Science Centre for DNA analysis.” The Coroner then turned to Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Carla Brown-Antoine, who was in court for another case, to use her good offices to press upon the Director of the Forensic Science Centre Yolanda Thompson to speed up the process. McNicolls’ order for the test to be carried out followed a request from Senior Counsel Desmond Allum, who is leading the team of attorneys representing the Chambers family.

In September 2003, Donna Prowell, one of the attorneys representing the Chambers family, wrote to DPP Geoffrey Henderson asking him to use any forensic expertise available abroad to do DNA testing on the exhibits. Henderson replied saying that the letter was passed to the Director of the Forensic Science Centre to determine whether it was possible, at that stage, to conduct DNA testing on the exhibits. Yesterday, Allum said the DPP sent a further letter dated October 21, 2003 in which Henderson stated that “steps are being made to locate the articles of clothing that you identified in your letter of September 11, 2003. Once same has been located, I propose to have arrangements made to have them submitted for DNA analysis.” Allum pointed out that the red and white short pants and underwear which Akiel was wearing when his body was found, turned up in court yesterday. The investigating officer, PC Alvarez, told the court that the items had been lodged at the property room at the Maraval Police Station and were only moved when the inquest begun.

Asked by the Coroner why he did not take them for testing, PC Alvarez replied, “The question of analysis never came up, and based on my seniors, they were lodged at the Maraval Police Station.” Allum said based on newspaper reports, he wanted to know if other exhibits were still in existence. “What is the status of this? This is a very critical piece of evidence,” Allum told the Coroner. Allum was referring to the anal swab labelled Akiel Chambers which was submitted to the Forensic Science Centre by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes on May 29, 1998. According to the certificate of analysis dated June 10, 1998, Scientific Officer I Vitra Bahadoorsingh said she analysed the exhibit which stated that ‘human spermatozoa were identified on the anal swab.’ Allum said he was interested in knowing where the exhibit was. As a result, Coroner McNicolls issued a summons for Baha-doorsingh to attend the hearing on February 18 to explain the whereabouts of the anal swab exhibit.

 
Cop: I saw body in the pool

CONSTABLE Clive Alvarez told the Coroner yesterday that he was the one who spotted the body of Akiel Chambers  at the bottom of the pool at the residence of Charles and Annelore James. Alvarez, who is attached to Special Branch, said he was at the Maraval Police Station on May 24, 1998 when he and PC Mitchell went to the James’ residence in response to a report made the day before that Akiel was missing. On his arrival at the residence at Balata Terrace, Haleland Park, Maraval, Alvarez said he met Mrs James who accompanied the police officers to the backyard where the pool was situated. “I could not see the bottom of the deeper end of the pool which was quite murky. It was extremely cloudy and I couldn’t see the bottom,” Alvarez told Coroner Sherman McNicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

The investigating officer said he checked the backyard but found nothing. He then conducted a visual check in the pool. “Whilst standing on the eastern end, I observed what appeared to be a silhouette of a human outline on the bed of the pool.”
CORONER: How could you see the deeper end of the pool when you said minutes ago that it was murky? How come?
WITNESS: The eastern end was murky or cloudy. Whilst checking that pool — a visual check — walking from the western end to the eastern end. Although the water had been cloudy when I got to the eastern end, I was able to make out something of an outline, which after observing for a while, not a whole minute, I formed an opinion that what I was seeing before my eyes was a human outline in length.

Alvarez said he informed his seniors and a party of police officers arrived on the scene. Sometime later, the District Medical Officer Dr Lambert Assing turned up. The body was fished out of the pool. The body, he added, was clad in a red and white short pants and was in a semi-crouched position. Alvarez said that Rawle Chambers, who was present, identified the body to be that of his son ,Akiel Chambers. The policeman said froth was oozing from Akiel’s nostrils and mouth. The body was that of a child, between ten and 11 years old, according to the witness. The DMO examined the body and ordered its removal to the Port-of-Spain mortuary. On May 25, 1998, Alvarez said he spoke with Cpl Husbands at the Maraval Police Station who handed him a post-mortem certificate, a pair of red and white shorts and a black underwear. Alvarez took possession of these items. He then made inquiries at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and spoke to pathologist Dr Neville Jankie. He then went to 80-82 Henry Street, Port-of-Spain where he spoke to Valerie Pascall, aunt and guardian of the dead boy.

Sometime later, Alvarez said he recorded statements from Annel-ore James, Carrie James, along with Rawle Chambers, Valerie Pascall, Terrence McClean, Patrick Young and Trevor Craigwell, whom he described as parents and invitees to the party for Carrie James. He also recorded statements from Akiel’s friends and other police officers. He said three of Akiel’s friends, Darnelle Riley, Kirlan Sylvester, and Anthony Craigwell remembered seeing Akiel in the pool on the afternoon of May 23, 1998. Alvarez said he showed the red and white pants to Patrick Young who told him that it was he (Young) who had lent Akiel the garment at the birthday party. Alvarez said he prepared a file on the death and submitted it for an inquest. Before the inquest was adjourn-ed, the Coroner asked that summons be issued for Young and Cpl Hubands to attend the hearing on February 18.