DNA confirms the remains of Darian

Mother of six, Christine Nedd, 44, yesterday told Newsday that she learnt of the confirmation result from police detectives a few days ago.

“When I called police on Tuesday to get an update on my son, they told me to come to the office. When I went, the officer confirmed that the remains were Darian’s,” Nedd said.

Police discovered the remains of Darian, a pupil of the Siparia East Secondary School, in the ruins of the family’s wooden home located at Red Brick Trace, South Oropouche on March 19.

It is believed Darian was chopped to death inside the house which was then set ablaze. Police subsequently obtained DNA samples from relatives so as to match and make confirmation as he was burnt beyond recognition. With confirmation that the remains are that of her son, Nedd is now hoping to have a “proper funeral” for him.

“We will get the remains during the week so, as soon as we do, we will have a proper funeral. At least now Darian will be able to rest. I am happy for that but at the end of the day, my son is still dead and the pain is very real ,” Nedd added.

Police sources noted that they were awaiting certain documentation before the remains are given to the family.

PC Harrypersad, of the Homicide Bureau, Region III, charged a neighbour, Roger Ragoopath, 26, with the schoolboy’s murder, less than two weeks after the investigators found the charred remains.

The accused, a fisherman, is expected to re-appear in the Siparia First Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The family now lives in a one-bedroom wooden structure constructed a few feet away from the original location.

In memory of the schoolboy, relatives constructed a mini shrine on the same location where his remains were found. The shrine, constructed in June, contains personal items of the schoolboy including partially burnt toys retrieved from the ruins of the original house.o