THE Coroner’s Inquest into the death of 40-year-old Nigel Lowe that was scheduled to commence today, was deferred to December 3 due to a juror’s absence.
Lowe, of Block ‘A’, Joe Singh Entrance, Sophia, was allegedly known in his community as a thief; on May 8, 2013, he was battered and chopped to death by a mob of about 20 men. His lifeless body was then tied to a lantern post and covered with pieces of wood.

There are reports that he was beaten after an alarm was raised in the neigbourhood that he was stealing from a resident; however, there are no reports of anyone being charged in relation to his brutal death.

The inquest is an official judicial process that will determine the cause of his death. When the matter was called at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, Magistrate Alisha George was informed that only two of the jurors were present.
The magistrate told the court that all three of the jurors have to be present before the hearing commences. Consequently, the hearing was then adjourned until December 3, 2018 at 14:00hrs.

Earlier last week, the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court published a notice in the daily newspapers for 13 witnesses to attend the hearing, and testify in the proceedings.
Of the 13 witnesses, three of them are police ranks: Detective Corporal Patrick Benjamin, of Cove and John Divisional Headquarters; Corporal Sohan Ramdat, of the Sparendaam Police Station; and Detective Corporal Kester Moriah of the Turkeyen Police Station.

The others are Jennifer Lowe, Viola Chisholm, Benette Hall, Sherry Punch, Lindo James, Clarence Layne, Michael Layne, Rohee James, Trayon Garnette and Tondica Tucker.