When and where did Akiel die?

WITH two days completed, the inquest hearing into the death of 11-year-old Akiel Chambers still does not tell us much. Pathologist Dr Neville Jankey, who performed the first autopsy, said on Friday that Akiel died by drowning. But the mystery question for Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls is when and where did Akiel die. From the evidence so far, Akiel was discovered missing at 6 pm on May 23, 1998 at the birthday party at the home of Charles and Annelore James at 23 Balata Terrace, Haleland Park, Maraval. When Akiel’s aunt Valerie Pascall turned up to collect him at 6 pm, no one at the party knew where he was. His clothes were found on a chair outside the kitchen, while his shoes were nearby. Two policemen searched the pool after 11 pm. There was no body in the pool.

To everyone’s surprise, Akiel’s body was found at the bottom of the same pool hours later. Certainly, a mystery. The inquest continues tomorrow with key witnesses. Forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes performed the second autopsy and the Coroner will anxiously await details of this report to find out what happened to Akiel. There will also be two members of the James’ family to give evidence — Annelore James, the hostess of the birthday party, and her daughter Carol. Sunday Newsday visited the James’ home on Tuesday and found that details of the description of the premises given by both the police and Pascall last week have changed after five years. The wall at the back of the premises as described by PC Dhanraj Maraj is no longer low. There is a high wall around the premises. The sliding door which Pascall opened to gain entry to the kitchen, is no longer there. The house has been renovated and two doors lead to the kitchen area, according to the house owner Charles James.

The James’ house is situated towards the dead end of Balata Terrace. So, the mystery deepens. How was someone able to leave the premises with Akiel Chambers in the afternoon and return hours later to throw his body in the pool without being seen or attracting the ferocious dogs in the neighborhood? Did Akiel ever leave Balata Trace that evening? In her evidence, Pascall said she left her Henry Street, Port-of-Spain home around 3 pm on May 23, 1998 to take Akiel to a birthday party for Carrie James, a classmate of her nephew. She hired a taxi because she did not know where the James’ residence was.  On arrival at Haleland Park, she saw a young lady standing near the entrance along with several children whom she recognised. Pascall did not get out of the taxi. She left Akiel at Haleland Park and returned to her home where she also carried on her dressmaking business. Pascall said she called the James’ home around 5 pm only to be told that the guests were about to stick the birthday cake. She eventually left her home around 5.30 pm and took a taxi straight to Haleland Park.

“I arrived there just before six o’clock. I told the taxi driver to wait for me as I was just going to pick up Akiel. I walked down the driveway and opened a sliding door to the kitchen. I saw some children and about three to four parents. I saw the postman Terrence Mc Clean who had a son attending Blackman’s School.” Pascall continued, “Mc Clean asked me what I was doing there as I had a daughter who went to Blackman’s. I told him that my nephew was attending the school and that I had come to pick him up. I saw Mrs James in the kitchen and I asked her for Akiel. Everybody was calling his name, but he didn’t appear.” Pascall said a search was carried out in the toy room and the computer room. Akiel was not found. Then, a search was carried out in the pool where about 15 children were bathing. She noticed there was no supervision and the children were bathing in the shallow end of the pool. At that time, parents were turning up to collect their children. There was a bigger search taking place. The pool was very clean as Pascall was able to see the bottom. Pascall said Akiel did not get permission to swim in the pool at the party. That was the condition he was allowed to attend, the aunt added. Pascall said the search went next door where children were also congregating. “Someone said that Akiel left in a car, and then shortly after, everybody was saying the same thing.” Pascall said Charles James returned home around 7 pm and went inside. He said nothing. The witness said she saw Akiel’s shoes near the door and his clothes on a chair. She placed the items in a bag, which she said, she still has at home.