The final report on the second autopsy on Brian Smith, who relatives say was beaten by soldiers and dumped in the sea two weeks ago, has been postponed to today.
According to relatives, the pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes asked for additional time to review the slides containing tissue samples taken from Smith’s lungs before completing the report.
Relatives also said Smith was last seen drinking alcohol with soldiers attached to the Engineer Battalion when they got into an argument over an illegal electrical connection on November 20.
Relatives claim the soldiers beat Smith with a shovel and after he complained to neighbours.
They claim he was hit in the head and thrown into the sea.
His body was found floating around 7 am on November 22, by prisons officers on their way to work at Carrera Island Prison.
A first autopsy, done by pathologist Estlyn McDonald-Burris, stated Smith drowned.
Relatives staged a fiery protest along the Western Main Road, Carenage, the following day, prompting officers of the Carenage Police Station to launch an investigation into Smith’s death.
That investigation has now been taken over by homicide detectives.
The nine soldiers, attached to the Engineer Battalion, were assigned to repair houses damaged by a low-flying helicopter assigned to the Air Guard early last month.
The regiment had suggested a third autopsy be done on Smith, who was buried last Friday, after it was reported that the second showed he died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Investigations are continuing.
Mcdonald-burris stands by her findings
In a statement yesterday, pathologist Eslyn McDonald-Burris, defended the findings of the autopsy she performed on Brian Smith on November 23.
The statement, released by her attorney Christlyn Moore, referred to public comments surrounding her findings that the cause of Smith’s death was drowning.
“The tenor of this commentary and the alleged results of a subsequent autopsy commissioned at the request of interested parties are of great concern. As a forensic pathologist in the employment of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I have no vested interest in the findings of any autopsy. My commitment always is to the integrity of the institution, the highest standards of professional conduct, and the preservation of my professional reputation. In this regard, I am confident that mature professional consideration and appropriate unbiased skill and care were brought to bear on the autopsy I performed on the body of Mr Smith.”
“It is important to note that while I rendered an opinion as to the cause of death, no opinion has been rendered on the manner of death. In any unnatural death, the manner of death may be homicide, suicide, accident or be undetermined. A determination as to the manner of death often involves further forensic and pathological examinations as well as police investigation.
“It is regrettable that the purported contents of a second autopsy have made the rounds in the media even before they have been tendered to the parties who commissioned it, no doubt because it’s alleged findings appear to conflict with mine, and fit into a narrative already being trafficked. Nevertheless, and while professionals may disagree, I stand by my unbiased conclusion as to the findings and cause of death in this case.”