Cops: Hope’s killer killed himself

This was the decision arrived at after investigators said they could find no information to suggest Ali was murdered behind bars. They are also basing their suicide theory on the report of an autopsy carried out by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes. The police have also received the result of a blood sample found on Ali’s hand which indicated it was his blood. Officers said yesterday that as far as they were concerned, Ali committed suicide.

Ali was found hanging in Cell Seven at the High Risk Section of the Maximum Security Prison in Golden Grove, Arouca at about 6.30 pm on May 30. His wrists had been slit.

Police investigators were able to find out that Ali secured a razor blade to cut his wrists from other prisoners. The blade was placed in a book which was thrown into his cell.

The cloth he used to hang himself was left behind by a prisoner who had previously occupied the cell. Police officers who were first assigned to probe Ali’s death got no assistance from prisoners at the High Risk Section.

The three prison officers who were assigned to carry out their own probe into the death of Ali have also found no evidence to suggest that he was murdered. Ali was charged with the murder of eight-year-old Hope Arismandez whose partially nude body was found in a Felicity canefield on May 27 last.

On Monday, Ali’s name was called in the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court where he was scheduled to reappear on the murder charge. Instead, Magistrate Nanette Forde-John was handed a copy of Ali’s death certificate.