A CORONER’S inquest is expected to commence into the deaths of two men who were killed during an accident at La Belle Alliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast, in 2019.
An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, and is held to determine the cause of a person’s death. In Guyana, a sitting magistrate who acts as the coroner empanels a jury, after which the inquest is conducted.

Magistrate Esther Sam will preside over the inquest at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court with a five-member jury to determine whether anyone is criminally responsible for the death of Mahendranauth Deonnarine and Nankishore Persaud.
Some 12 witnesses are expected to be called and the hearing will commence on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

According to reports on July 5, 2019, both Deonnarine and Persaud were on their motorcycles riding along the La Belle Alliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast.
Deonnarine was riding in a northerly direction and attempted to overtake a motor car, but instead collided with Persaud’s motorcycle. The police had arrested the driver of the motor car but he was later released. The inquest will determine if the driver is criminally responsible for the two men’s death.