Witness: Nothing found in the pool

POLICE Constable Dhanraj Maraj said yesterday  he visited the home of Charles James at Haleland Park, Maraval, but despite a search in the swimming pool, nothing was found.

Maraj, who is attached to the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), said that around 11 pm on May 23, 1998, he was in the charge room at the Maraval Police Station when Valerie Pascall came and made a report. As a result, he went with PC Mitchell and Pascall to the James’ residence. PC Mitchell interviewed Mrs Annelore James. Maraj said they were allowed onto the premises. They searched the premises and the swimming pool, but he could not see to the bottom because the pool was cloudy.

He said PC Mitchell used a rod to search the sides of the pool. “I was searching the pool to see if the boy (Akiel Chambers) was at the bottom of the pool, but I could not see the bottom of the pool.” Questioned by attorney Desmond Allum SC, PC Maraj did not find it strange that his colleague PC Mitchell was “prodding” the sides of the pool. This search of the pool lasted five minutes, Maraj added. After the search, the policemen returned to the Maraval Police Station.