THE post-mortem performed on the body of Curt Burke, of Drill Road, Mahaicony,East Coast Demerara, whose dismembered body was found in a cluster of bushes in his village,has proved that the man died from multiple injuries to his body.The autopsy was conducted Saturday morning by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, who found that the man’s body was run over by a large or heavy vehicle multiple times.
Dr. Singh found that Burke died from multiple broken bones and severely damaged organs. All major arteries were punctured, his brain was crushed, and severed limbs were also crushed.
The police are of the opinion that the man met his demise after being involved in a “hit and run accident” and was not murdered. However, according to the man’s cousin Rickford Burke, President of Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), the findings of Dr. Singh render the police’s speculation inexplicable.
Burke stated that no photographs or report from the scene showed bloodstains or brain matter on the ground, which suggested that the body was brought to the scene where it was discovered to support the police case.
“I’m particularity frustrated that the Commanding Officer of the ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner of Police Marlon Chapman, who has jurisdiction for this investigation, continues to speculate in the press about this crime being an accident.
“Their assumption is not consistent with the prima facie evidence, which points to premeditated murder and the deliberate running over a human being with a vehicle, which was used as a weapon to inflict serious bodily injury or cause death, is not an accident. It is murder!”
Burke urged that the police conduct a professional investigation with dispatch, instead of speculating about a cause of death and should also provide a justification for why officers at the Mahaicony Station declined to detain and/or interrogate two potential suspects, who had showed up at the station to retrieve cellphones that were found at the crime scene.
“We believe that the investigation by the ‘C’ Division has been sloppy and unprofessional and therefore [we] repose no confidence in their investigation.
“Consequently, we call on the Commissioner of Police to direct investigators from the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Division to take over the investigation of this crime,” Burke said.
The body of the father of four was found in a clump of bushes in Mahaicony last Wednesday, with the lower right leg severed and several chops about his slim figure.
Curt Burke’s mutilated body was partially wrapped in tree vines when it was discovered. Police said they suspected the man might have been a victim of a hit and run accident.
Earlier reports suggested that a car had struck Burke’s bicycle on the Drill Public Road and the driver upon checking to see what had happened, was told by a man nearby to return to his vehicle and leave, since staying and looking around may put him in problems.
Burke’s bicycle was found with only a minor bend to the wheel.
According to one relative of the deceased, “They found him with his arm in the air like if he was blocking chops and lashes. His leg was found a far distance away from the body.”
Other reports reveal that Burke was drinking Tuesday night and never returned home as usual to assist his relative with work around the yard.