By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Jan. 14, 2021: Three persons were today remanded to prison for the brutal murders of two teens, which triggered racial unrest in the country last September.
Those charged for the horrific murders of 16-year-old Isaiah and 19-year-old Joel Henry which occurred in September 2020 are 19-year-old Akash Singh, called “Monkey,” of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, 33-year-old Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, WCB; and 34-year-old Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice.
Singh, who had confessed, was separately charged with the murder of Isaiah while the other two accused were charged jointly for both murders.
They appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
They are expected to make their next court appearance on February 2 at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.
On September 6, 2020, the bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, Guyana, almost one day after they were reported missing. They had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but did not return home. Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud, after relatives went in search of them.
The news of their deaths sparked protests across several villages along the West Coast Berbice corridor, where commuters were beaten and robbed. With blocked roads, some vehicles were also torched.
And then, on September 9, 17-year-old Haresh Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands. It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he is related to one of the persons initially held by the police.
