Inquest into soldier’s death

On Wednesday, an autopsy by pathologist Dr Eslyn McDonald Burris revealed a single gunshot wound to the head killed the soldier. The autopsy report did not identity any other injuries on Samaroo’s body.

Yesterday, Snr Supt Jacob told Newsday when he receives the file it will then be submitted to a Coroner and the police will be recommending that an inquest be held to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s death.

The top cop described as “reckless”, media reports which suggested the soldier may have been murdered and the scene staged to suggest a suicide. He reiterated that the police have classified the death as suicide.

Newsday understands that Samaroo’s driver as well as two other soldiers, who discovered his body in a dormitory at Camp Cumuto on Tuesday, have submitted statements to Sgt Denoon.

At 7.10 am on Tuesday Samaroo arrived for duty at Camp Cumuto and went to the armoury where he was issued a Sig Saur pistol and an empty magazine. At 9.45 am, a shot was heard from the dormitory and soldiers who rushed to investigate, found the soldier on the ground, holding the pistol in his right hand which was resting on his chest.

He was rushed to the Arima Hospital and transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where he died at 11.30 pm.

Funeral arrangements were being finalised yesterday. Samaroo was said to be a family- oriented person who had an especially close bond with his daughter.

He had 27 years service in the Defence Force and lived in St Helena.