Police still to run forensic tests on woman’s remains

SAMPLES from the remains of the decomposed female discovered two weeks ago in a clump of bushes at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, have not yet left Guyana for forensic testing.
On Wednesday, Crime Chief Leslie James indicated to the Guyana Chronicle that the Force’s administration is still contemplating several options, while also looking at past experiences regarding sending samples to other countries for testing.
The samples were taken to ascertain if the remains were that of schoolteacher Nyozi Goodman, who went missing almost a month ago after attending a basketball game with her students.
Goodman’s mother did indicate to sections of the media that the remains which were discovered were that of her daughter, pointing to a belt which was discovered close to the body.
However, the police must have the necessary tests done to ensure that the remains are indeed from the missing teacher. Persons have been arrested and questioned in relation to her disappearance but no one has been charged.
There can be no charges laid against anyone for the teacher’s disappearance or murder since tests have to confirm that the remains are that of the woman.

In a previous case, the Ministry of Home Affairs and President Donald Ramotar himself had expressed disappointment in the investigation of the Sheema Mangar murder.
After the killing of the former Demerara Bank staffer, on September 10, 2010, potential evidence was dispatched overseas to be tested.
Mangar was at North Road and Camp Street, Georgetown, awaiting transportation when her Blackberry cell phone was snatched from her.
The 21-year-old woman gave chase after the snatcher who entered a motor car that drove off and she placed herself in front of the vehicle, in an effort to stop it but was run over and dragged several feet before it sped away. Following her death, hair samples were taken from a motorcar which was suspected to have been involved in the murder of the young bank employee. The samples were sent to Jamaica but there has been no outcome since.

(By Leroy Smith)