Police still awaiting DNA results from Barbados
THE police said yesterday they are still awaiting the DNA results from Barbados in connection with the brutal murder of Demerara Bank employee Sheema Mangar in September last year. Mangar, 20, was a victim of a robbery sometime after 18:00hrs on September 10, 2010 as she awaited a bus on North Road and Camp Street, in Georgetown. She chased the robber who jumped into the car that dragged her from outside Bedford Methodist Church, at Camp Street and North Road, to the intersection of Camp and Church Streets.
She died hours later at St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
Initially, two suspects were arrested but were later released due to lack of evidence. However, investigators took samples of a fabric retrieved from under the car and these were sent to Barbados for DNA testing.
In an earlier interview, the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, confirmed that they are still awaiting the DNA results from Barbados.
He said, “Only recently I made an inquiry regarding the Guyana Police Force acquiring the results of the DNA results[test] from Barbados; but we haven’t received any results so far, the key to the investigations rests with the DNA results we are awaiting. I know there is tremendous impatience and probably dissatisfaction. But I don’t think DNA testing is something that can be rushed.”
The minister explained that there are others that have applied for DNA testing in Barbados, “and we have to join the line until we have the capacity in Guyana for DNA testing.”
He said, “I am assured that the police are following leads that they come across from time to time and I don’t consider this a cold case.”