Shannon smothered

An initial autopsy last Friday, done by Dr Des Vignes, was inconclusive and the pathologist asked police for more time to carry out further tests.

On Sunday evening, Des Vignes returned to the Forensic Science Centre and spent several hours conducting another autopsy following which, he determined that Banfield’s cause of death was a homicide and she was smothered. It is believed the killer/s blocked the nose and mouth of the 20-year-old, resulting in her death due to a lack of oxygen. Yesterday, a team of Homicide Investigations Bureau officers went to the centre, where they also spent several hours with Des Vignes where he explained to them what he had discovered in his second autopsy.

A report on the findings of the second autopsy was handed over to officers. Investigators approached Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard shortly before 6 pm yesterday and were advised that even with the new autopsy report, they needed to tie up a few loose ends before contemplating criminal charges. Banfield’s funeral will be held today. Banfield left her workplace - Republic Bank’s Independence Square branch two Mondays ago - to shop at Pennywise and IAM & Co Ltd before boarding a taxi to be taken to her Santa Cruz home. She never made it home alive.

On Thursday last, her body was found on a shelf in a store-room on the third floor of IAM & Co Ltd’s Charlotte Street, Port-of- Spain outlet. Cardboard boxes were used to conceal the body.

Two men were detained with one of them, an 18-year-old, being released from police custody at about 8.45 pm on Saturday.

The DPP ordered the man’s release after it was determined he could not be linked to Banfield’s murder. Police apologised to the teen who is now trying to recover from his experience of being labelled a ‘person of interest’. However, the second suspect who was interviewed by police on Saturday night and again on Sunday, steadfastly refuses to cooperate with investigators. This suspect has since retained attorney Larry Williams to seek his legal interests.

According to sources, it is believed Banfield asked to use the washroom at IAM and Company and was escorted to the washroom area located on the third floor. It is believed she was attacked and murdered.